SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8) — It’s a big mess and someone has to clean it up - but at what cost? Everything from furniture to electronics are scattered along our local roadways and Caltrans cleans it up, but the price to do so is climbing.
“I’ve seen mattresses, a couch, a ladder – a big long ladder,” said one woman News 8 spoke with.
If you've driven the freeways in San Diego, there's a good chance you've seen all of aforementioned items and probably much more.
In fact, it's so bad that according to Caltrans they spent more than $7.4-million cleaning up debris, litter and graffiti on freeways, state routes and Caltrans land.
That's in both San Diego County and Imperial County
According to a Caltrans spokesperson, it's a significant amount and is 19 percent of the agency's local maintenance expenditures.
“It's really sad,” said Becca Kuntz with I Love A Clean San Diego. “It's not just expensive, it could be damaging to our environment. No piece of litter is inconsequential, every choice matters.”
Kuntz says while we may see the debris and litter piling up on the side of the roads, it doesn't stay there forever.
"Most of that will make its way to our oceans through the water shed and nobody wants to be swimming in the ocean and see cigarette butts and plastic bags,” said Kuntz.
According to Kuntz, there are several ways for drivers to make sure the waste doesn't end up on the roads.
That includes devices for trash and cigarettes to keep in your car to making sure whatever you're towing is strapped down tight.
“We have the power as individuals to make to make changes in our environment and it's all about taking the time to figure out where our trash is going to end up,” said Kuntz.