Illegal dumping in East Bay neighborhoods has become such an egregious eyesore, and in some cases a health hazard, that concerned residents organized a trash tour to ensure the growing problem doesn't go unnoticed. 

Old matted mattresses, a wooden dresser and  piles of dirty clothes cover one well-traveled Oakland street near a popular park.

"It's all over Oakland," said Gideon Hall Michael, an Oakland resident. "You can call and they'll clean that up and it'll be back there the next day."

Illegal dumping is not a new problem in Oakland, but it's one that's growing.

West Oakland activist Shirley Burnell was so disgusted by the garbage on the streets she invited city officials and representatives from Waste Management on a tour for an up close look at the problem. 

"We are not going to take it; we are going to be in their faces to make sure they do their jobs," Burnell said. 

Waste Management said the city of Oakland may consider implementing a pilot program similar to one launched last month in Hayward. That program spreads the responsibility of cleanup across several agencies.

"It's a tough problem and there's no one solution," said Tom Ridder, district manager for Waste Management of Alameda County.

"We used to have a crew that would go out and set up traps and cameras," said Oakland Mayor Jean Quan. "Now we've been working with neighborhoods to set up permanent cameras."

Quan said Thursday the city is doing what it can with its limited resources and that dump sites are usually addressed within a week. 

Burnell said she believes the Oakland Police Department could be doing more.

"They don't have to be on duty to identify people who are dumping and the police are out there all the time of the night and day, so if you see someone dumping turn them in," Burnell said.

Mayor Quan said that the city is asking residents to report dumpers by snapping photos of license plates, but some activists say that's just another example of the city asking the public to do its job.