A few of the 10 mattresses picked up along Highway 53 on April 19 by Caltrans maintenance crews as part of the agency's statewide Annual Litter Day . Caltrans photo
The North Coast’s highways are a bit cleaner these days, especially Highway 53 in Lake County.
The highway is only about 7.5 miles long, from Lower Lake to Clearlake Oaks. But Caltrans considers it the dirtiest highway in Lake and Mendocino counties.
So last Thursday, which was designated Caltrans’ statewide Annual Litter Day, it probably came as no surprise to the maintenance crews who went out to pick up litter and other garbage along 53 to discover 10 mattresses along the road. See photo above.
Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie Jr. said officials believe Highway 53 gets more than its share of trash because it’s the route that people take to get to the Lake County dump in Clearlake.
Other than Highway 53, he said, Caltrans doesn’t really have much of a litter problem along Mendocino and Lake county highways.
Caltrans' Ukiah maintenance crew picks up litter along Highway 101 just south of Talmage Road on April 19. Caltrans photo
During Litter Day, Mendocino and Lake Caltrans crews picked up a total of 60 cubic yards of trash, including 10 cubic yards along Highway 29 in Lake County and 17 cubic yards along Highway 101 in Mendocino County. Sonoma County crews removed a total of 29 cubic yards of garbage from highways.
Frisbie said Lake and Mendocino counties’ Caltrans maintenance crews, which is eight teams with a total of 82 employees, all hit the highways to pick up litter.
He said Caltrans picked an Annual Litter Day to bring attention to the garbage left along the state’s highways and, hopefully, get people to stop littering.
Last year’s Litter Day removed 2,533 cubic yards of trash from highways statewide. Figures statewide for last week’s pickup were unavailable.
The Lakeport maintenance crew with some of the trash removed along Highway 29. Here they are just south of Kelseyville. Caltrans photo
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Dar
It is unfortunate and a bit sickening that people litter and or dump anywhere other than the dump/transfer station. That being said, is there any reason why they can’t have low-level offender old school prison “chain gangs” to address the littering? I think that would be a much more valuable use of a prisoners time.
April 26th, 2012 12:33 am
Vincent
The problem is the cost of disposal. People that are already short on funds don’t want to shell out the extra money to pay for a dump run. They should have a program designed to eliminate the dump expense and that would take care a big portion of the problem. I personally take things to the dump and its horrendous what they charge.
April 26th, 2012 7:35 am
Dave
Dar. That is done in other states but can you really see it happening in PC California? even though there is always a lot of whining about costs etc.
April 26th, 2012 8:47 am
Brad
It’s not hard to figure out. There’s a large fee for mattresses at the dumps.
April 26th, 2012 11:44 am
smartcookie
The local trash company’s do not advertise this, they will pick up 4 or 5 oversize items a year for free. All you have to do is call them in advance and leave it out with your trash on trash day. I know I’m preaching to the choir here, but perhaps every reader could tell 2 people and spread the word to persons who probably don’t have a sense of community responsibility but like to take advantage of something free.
April 26th, 2012 12:36 pm
Kathy Murray
I agree. It is the cost of disposal that makes people dump along roadways. What about 2 free dump days… it may be less costly then the road crew and fuel that it takes to clean up the mess. I have “adopted” a stretch of Highway 12 in Sonoma Valley. The items I have found would boggle your mind!!
April 26th, 2012 3:05 pm
scot
Ban mattresses as plastic bags. Sound like we have more mattresses than plastic bags.
April 26th, 2012 4:55 pm