LOS ANGELES - Since January 1, 2024, Council District 15’s Clean 15, the program has picked up, removed, and discarded over 15,582 tons, or over 31 million pounds, of trash, debris and overgrown vegetation on streets, alleys and other public spaces throughout the Council District. In total, since its launch in July, the Clean 15 Team has picked up a total of 26,103 tons (52.2 million pounds).
The Clean 15 program was allotted $1 Million in funding in the current 2023-24 Fiscal Year budget and initiated in mid-July 2023. The team, made up of two Council District 15 staffers, is supported by local community organizations including LA Conservation Corps./Clean and Green, Gang Alternatives Program, Coalition for Responsible Community Development and SBCC Clean Wilmington.
“Clearing illegal dumping and trash is vital for our communities, it conveys respect for our public spaces and enhances the safety, health, and overall well-being for our residents,” said Councilmember Tim McOsker. “There’s clearly a systemic problem when we’ve removed 52 million pounds of trash and dumping in 10 months, 31 million of which was just this calendar year. But as we work to strengthen our city’s illegal dumping prevention and criminal enforcement, we can’t let our neighborhoods be dumpsites in the meantime. By removing debris, ultimately, this Clean 15 initiative creates cleaner, safer spaces that promote a higher quality of life for all.”
The Clean 15 Program travels throughout the 15th Council District on a schedule addressing dumping issues in each of the 5 communities, each day of the work week. Recently, the program expanded to include a dedicated support team, the Coalition for Responsible Community Development, to focus on Watts and the Harbor Gateway communities.