State and Local Officials Promote 'Spring Cleaning' Campaign

State and local officials today publicized the annual "Spring Cleaning" campaign designed to remind people not to litter on state roadways.

The campaign includes Caltrans' "Don't Trash California" and Keep California Beautiful's "Littering is Wrong" public education programs.

"The 'Don't Trash California' campaign targets primary offenders of highway littering, as well as the general public, to create a social mindset in California that this state does not tolerate polluting our freeways and highways," Caltrans said in a statement.

Under state law, it is a misdemeanor to throw anything from a moving vehicle. The law prohibits littering, as well as throwing lighted cigarettes from a motor vehicle, and a $1,000 fine is authorized, Caltrans reported.

"Cigarette butts are a significant pollutant to our environment in our storm drains and on our highways. Storm water carries littered cigarette butts directly into our waterways where they can be ingested by marine life that mistake them for food," Caltrans reported. "Cigarette butts can also release toxic chemicals into the water."

Among the items of trash and litter found on the roadways were fast-foot wrappers, cups, napkins, bottles, cans, license plates, grocery carts, and home furnishings.

More information is available on the website www.DontTrashCalifornia.info.

In the past fiscal year, Caltrans spent more than $43 million statewide to remove more than 150,000 cubic yards of litter, trash and debris from state highways. In Caltrans District 7 in the Southland, the agency spent $1.8 million to remove more than 23,000 cubic yards of litter, and another $1.8 million cleaning up 2.6 million square feet of graffiti, said Patrick Chandler of Caltrans.

Caltrans urged people to always use a litter bag in a vehicle; to tie down loads within the bed of a truck; and to keep pickup truck beds clean and free from debris that can fly out.

Keep California Beautiful provides resources and support to more than 200 California communities, and focuses on cleanup, beautification and enhancement projects. The organization helps coordinate volunteer efforts to clean litter and trash from highways, public lands, waterways and beaches.

- City News Service