Since its launch in July 2021, the Clean California initiative has removed 3.4 million cubic yards of litter and debris from highways and public spaces across the state. This amount is equivalent to filling more than 136,000 garbage trucks. The collected waste includes 15,500 mattresses and 57,000 tires. Over four years, the program has enlisted more than 72,000 community clean-up volunteers and created thousands of jobs.
The announcement follows Governor Gavin Newsom’s formation of a statewide task force aimed at prioritizing the removal of encampments and providing services to individuals experiencing homelessness along state rights-of-way in California’s ten largest cities.
The $1.2 billion Clean California program is described as one of Governor Newsom’s most successful environmental initiatives. It aims to provide lasting impacts on communities while supporting goals related to climate resiliency, economic equity, and public safety.
Program highlights include maintenance crews dedicated to cleaning state highways and public rights-of-way; hosting 650 free dump days in both urban and rural areas; installing 639 pieces of art along highways; mobilizing over 72,000 community clean-up volunteers according to a survey from Keep America Beautiful; completing or advancing 314 beautification projects such as new parks, public art installations, and transit station improvements (191 projects completed); creating approximately 18,000 job opportunities; securing pledges from 110 communities for long-term commitments toward zero litter and environmental enhancement through the Clean California Community designation program—of which thirty have already achieved full status.
Governor Gavin Newsom stated: “Clean California has become an overwhelming success and a model our state can continue to build on. Yes, we’ve removed hundreds of thousands of garbage trucks worth of trash from our roads and highways, but it’s more than that — we’ve invested in communities all across our state with public art projects and parks, creating thousands of jobs and lifting up countless neighborhoods in need.”
A notable recent project was the nearly $5 million Dixieanne Neighborhood Clean and Green Alleys project in Sacramento. This effort improved 23 residential alleys with permeable pavers, fencing repairs, shade trees, and public art to encourage community gathering and active transportation.
Further information about these efforts can be found at https://build.ca.gov/ or by visiting https://cleanca.com/.
