Going Green - Back to Basics

Written by Bakersfield Magazine

You’ve already started recycling.

Maybe you’re even biking more, instead of driving. So what’s next? Simple. It’s time to go back to the basics.

What’s something that you encounter everyday while walking, biking, or driving? Sometimes you notice it and sometimes you don’t. In either case, it harms our environment and makes our city look shabby. The answer is litter! It could be an empty fast food bag in the gutter on your street, a tipped over trash can on a main drag, or even debris along the side of a highway—it all needs to be picked up.

Anyone can pick up a few scattered pieces of garbage—but it’s important to do more!

There are a number of ways you can get involved around Kern County by picking up litter and keeping our city clean and healthy.

Start by visiting Kern County’s road clean up website (www.co.kern.ca.us/KKRC/default.asp) or you can visit www.keepbakersfieldbeautiful.us/ to check out some great programs in our area that can help you do your part.

86-CLEAN

Have you ever spotted an area of the city in need of a clean-up? Here’s how you can help. Give this number a call with the specifics; the location, cross streets, and what needs to be cleaned up. If it is a job they’re capable of taking care of, someone will be out there as soon as possible. If not, they will organize a volunteer group to help clean the area. You can assist them in keeping Bakersfield beautiful simply by calling. Want to get more involved? They’re also looking for additional volunteer groups who would be interested in going to the areas that are reported. If your group would be interested in this volunteer opportunity, please call today!

Graffiti Abatement

The Graffiti Abatement program works with local schools to fight graffiti along with educating students about the negative impacts of graffiti, as well as teaching students about the law in regards to graffiti. The Graffiti Abatement program provides assistance in the Great American Clean-Up every year.

Waste In Place

Waste In Place is a California School approved curriculum for school kids regarding recycling. The program is a “train the trainer” program. The county is looking to introducing it into schools next school year. As part of this program, Keep Bakersfield Beautiful (KBB) along with the Solid Waste Division is committed to introducing an effective recycling collection program to complement the education component.

Scouts

Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts can earn a patch by volunteering in KBB projects: the CUB patch (Clean-Up Bakersfield). Scouts have also been major supporters in the Great American Clean-Up.

Of course, if you’re looking to do something bigger, the world is your oyster. Or rather...the roads are.

Adopt A Highway

If you’re a business, organization, family, or even just a party of one and you want to help out our community, you can adopt a stretch of highway or even just an area in town. The Adopt-an-Area and Keep Kern Roads Clean programs are actively seeking volunteers who will commit to cleaning a specific area at least once a month. A sign with your name will be posted as recognition, too! To sign up, complete an application form either online at the Keep Kern Roads Clean website or print one out and send it in. You may even get to select the road you want to adopt.

Not convinced adopting a road is right for you?

These statistics may just change your mind!

1) The Caltrans Adopt-A-Highway Program was established in 1989 (California was the 20th state in the nation to develop an Adopt-A-Highway Program).

2) In addition to the aesthetic benefits of cleaner and more beautiful roadsides, participants help to prevent potential pollutants from entering our waterways.

3) During the past 15 years, Adopt-A-Highway participants have collected litter from over 4,000 locations, cleaned graffiti from more than 300 freeway walls or structures, planted trees and wildflowers at 375 sites, and even maintained historic mission bells.

4) More than 15,000 shoulder-miles of highway are adopted—that’s over 50 percent of the State Highway System.

5) Adopt-A-Highway Program participants pick up nearly 250,000 bags of trash from California’s roadsides each year–enough bags to reach from Bakersfield to Disneyland!

6) Adopt-A-Highway Program efforts represent a $14.5 million savings to California’s taxpayers each year.

what are you waiting for?

Gather a group of friends, business associates, or coworkers and start picking up our roads today. A little work today will mean a cleaner future for everyone! n

Sources: www.co.kern.ca.us/KKRC, www.keepbakersfieldbeautiful.us

Article appeared in our 26-6 Issue - February 2010

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