MacArthur Park in Los Angeles generated nearly 13 million pounds of trash and hazardous waste in the past year, a figure that included 71 tons of human waste and 12 tons of discarded needles and syringes. City workers conducted over 7,111 cleaning operations in the park during 2025, averaging at least 19 cleanups per day, according to reports.
The extensive waste removal operation, part of the city's Comprehensive Cleaning and Rapid Engagement (CARE+) program, is projected to cost the city at least $41 million this year, with an additional $15 million for administration and support staff.
Critics contend that city policies, including the distribution of clean needles and crack pipes, have exacerbated the problem. Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez has been cited for diverting $250,000 from scholarship programs to fund such initiatives, intended to reduce overdoses and disease transmission. However, opponents argue that these programs inadvertently encourage drug addiction and contribute to the park's degraded condition.
Reports indicate that last year's waste collected from MacArthur Park also contained over 50 tons of flammable materials and nearly ten tons of toxins and poisons. The city's response is characterized by some as a failure to enforce laws against public camping and a direct consequence of policies that encourage addiction rather than address it.
The situation in MacArthur Park has become a focal point for discussions regarding the city's approach to homelessness, addiction, and public space management. The park's condition and the costs associated with its maintenance underscore the ongoing challenges faced by Los Angeles in balancing public health, safety, and the needs of its unhoused population. Voters in City Council District 1 recently re-elected Hernandez, indicating continued support for her approach despite the criticism.