Governor Newsom’s Clean California effort reaches major milestone: 3 million cubic yards of litter removed, 600 public art projects installed

What you need to know: Since launching the Clean California effort in July 2021, Caltrans and its partners throughout the Golden State have removed 3.4 million cubic yards of litter and debris from highways and public spaces- the equivalent of filling more than 136,000 garbage trucks worth of litter.

SACRAMENTO - Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced over 3.4 million cubic yards of litter has been cleared from state highways and communities in the four years of the Newsom administration's Clean California effort. That's the equivalent of more than 136,000 garbage trucks filled, enough to line over 500 miles of I-5 from Sacramento to San Diego, and then some.

Emerging as one of the most successful environmental initiatives brought forward by Governor Newsom, the $1.2 billion Clean California effort - led by Caltrans - has provided a visible and lasting impact on communities throughout the state, while also supporting long-term goals aimed at climate resiliency, economic equity and public safety.

Today's announcement comes after the Governor convened a new statewide task force last week to prioritize and remove encampments and bring services and shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness along state rights-of-way in California's ten largest cities.

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.

Governor Gavin Newsom

The trash collected by Clean California includes 15,500 mattresses and 57,000 tires. The initiative has enlisted 72,000-plus community clean-up volunteers and created thousands of jobs. Program highlights include:

• Maintenance crews dedicated to cleaning state highways and public rights of way
• 650 free dump days hosted in urban and rural communities
• 639 pieces of art installed on the highways
• 72,000 community clean-up volunteers (according to a survey from Keep America Beautiful)
• 314 beautification projects, including the development of new parks, public art and improvements at several transit stations. Of these, 191 projects have been completed.
• 18,000 job opportunities created
• So far, 110 communities have pledged to become a designated Clean California Community by agreeing to complete specific criteria that demonstrate long-term commitments to zero litter, community beautification and environmental enhancement. Thirty communities have already achieved full designation status.

"Under Governor Newsom's leadership, Clean California is revitalizing communities across the state," said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. "From Siskiyou County in the north to Imperial County in the south, and Kern County in the Central Valley - Clean California is restoring pride and creating spaces where communities thrive."

One transformative community beautification project recently completed was in Castroville. Clean California funded $1.3 million in improvements to a pedestrian overcrossing at State Route 156 and Geil Street with new landscaping and vibrant murals, repairs to the adjacent sidewalk and installation of new fencing.

To learn more about how California is creating a brighter future by building more, faster - for all, by visiting build.ca.gov.