Recently, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the launch of the Clean California Community Designation Program, a statewide effort encouraging local engagement to make communities cleaner, safer, and more sustainable.
The innovative program – in partnership with Caltrans, Keep America Beautiful, and Keep California Beautiful – is the latest feature of Clean California, a sweeping $1.2 billion, multiyear initiative led by Caltrans to clean up, reclaim, transform, and beautify public spaces.
For the past three years, Clean California has transformed littered areas around the state into cleaner, greener, and safer spaces. Now, more than 20 communities are stepping up and committing to do the same – becoming the state’s first Clean California Communities.
The state recently marked three years of Clean California; the program has created 18,000 jobs and hauled away more than 2.6 million cubic yards of litter – enough to cover nine lanes of Interstate 5 with an inch of trash from San Diego to the Canadian border.
The Clean California Community Designation Program highlights localities committed to a number of long-term, zero-litter policies designed to engage residents in supporting community beautification and environmental enhancement. Each municipality must complete 10 of 15 specific criteria to earn the designation. So far, 22 communities have taken this first step.
Clean California Designation Program criteria include a commitment from top local officials, a litter abatement plan, regular local cleanups and litter collection drives, establishing measurements tracking litter removal, and engaging local stakeholders and businesses.
In return, designated communities receive “Clean California Community” signage, educational resources, free cleanup kits, cross-promotional Clean California materials, and priority access to Keep America Beautiful national grant opportunities.
The program’s goal is to enlist 100 communities by June 2025. For more information or an application for the Clean California Designation Program, visit cleanca.com/designation.
For other ways to help clean up your own community or to list a cleanup event, visit the volunteer page at cleanca.com/volunteer.
