Litter a ‘Serious Problem’ for Highways

Los Angeles and Ventura counties spend more than $4.5 million a year removing litter, mattresses, lumber and more from the highways.

“We’ve seen it all, including the kitchen sink and the bathtub, too,” said Jeanne Bonfilio, spokeswoman for the California Department of Transportation.

Caltrans is responsible for clearing debris and trash off California highways in partnership with the California Highway Patrol.

“People don’t realize that men and women of Caltrans work next to fast-moving vehicles (to clean up litter),” Bonfilio said.

More than $4.5 million is spent annually to retrieve litter and trash from the highways and an additional $5 million is spent cleaning storm drains where litter gathers.

“Litter is a serious problem,” she said.

The common items Bonfilio has seen and heard of include ladders, mattresses, couch cushions, plastic coolers, tires and retreads, paint buckets, lumber, lawn chairs and surf boards.

“People don’t realize how strong the wind is. Anything not secured has the potential to come loose,” Bonfilio said.

Some uncommon items, including washers, dryers and spas, also have been spotted on the highways.

Fast food litter is a continuous problem.

“It’s worse near the on- and offramps,” Bonfilio said.

Often when a large bulky item is spotted on the highway, the CHP is alerted and will perform a traffic break to remove the item from the road. When it is a road hazard, it is removed immediately.

Sometimes the item is moved to the side of the road and Caltrans and CHP work as a team.

“It’s a case-by-case basis. Safety is our No. 1 priority. Anything in lanes is moved the moment it’s identified,” Bonfilio said.

Another method of cleaning the highways is the Adopt-a-Highway program.

The Newhall Land and Farming Co. has adopted Interstate 5 from Lyons Avenue to Magic Mountain.

“They do a great job,” she said. The highways are also maintained by court-ordered programs where men and women perform community service to clear trash.

“We think people aren’t aware of the efforts it takes to clean up litter,” Bonfilio said. “It is a neverending problem. It’s a constant.”

Caltrans encourages people to secure their loads in pickup trucks when transporting items and offers this advice: “If you see a friend littering, encourage them not to do it.”