CALTRANS DISTRICT 9 HOSTED ITS FIRST CLEAN CALIFORNIA FREE DUMP DAY AND COLLECTED 455 TIRES!

EASTERN KERN, INYO, AND MONO COUNTIES — Caltrans District 9 hosted its first Clean California Free Dump Day on Saturday, September 11^th.

The district-wide event kicked off the Clean California program which encourages responsible trash handling practices and community stewardship. Part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s California Comeback Plan, Clean California is a sweeping $1.1 billion, multiyear cleanup effort to remove trash, create thousands of jobs, and engage communities to transform roadsides and restore pride in public spaces.

“The Clean California program will beautify our roads and community spaces here in District 9 and throughout the state,” said Ryan Dermody, Caltrans District 9 Director. “The District’s first Free Dump Day had a strong turnout, evidence that there is demand for this program in our communities.”

Caltrans District 9 hosted the free event simultaneously at three locations: Ridgecrest, Bishop, and Smokey Bear Flat between Mammoth Lakes and June Lake. Community members were able to bring trash to the locations, where Caltrans maintenance crews unloaded the waste into bins and trucks. Between the three locations, Caltrans served 279 vehicles and collected approximately 204 cubic yards of trash, 455 tires, 12 mattresses, and 10 TVs.

Clean California Dump Days provide residents with a safe and convenient way to dispose of items such as tires, concrete, and appliances at no cost. Future Dump Day events are planned at various locations throughout Caltrans District 9 over the next three years.

“We want to keep our community clean…especially for the younger generation…they’ve got to learn to take care of things,” said Janice Mitchell, one of the community members who came to the event with her daughter and grandson.

As part of Clean California, Caltrans plans to create educational opportunities to drive a cultural shift of shared responsibility for the cleanliness of our roadways and communities. Caltrans is also planning infrastructure enhancements that will improve safety and unify communities.

Visit CleanCA.com to learn more about how Clean California is transforming communities.