Broken bottles, a dresser and even a shopping cart, lay strewn with an array of trash along northbound interstate 15, and Caltrans officials say they expect more litter to come.
"On the freeway, you can find just about anything on any given day," said Caltrans Special Programs Supervisor Dave Salerno.
For over 30 years, Salerno's team has worked to pick up four tons of trash every week. He said they have to be prepared for anything, including firearms and explosives. This week, they've retrieved a refrigerator, 12 matresses and a hot water heater.
Last year, Caltrans and his team collected 740 garbage trucks worth of trash in San Diego and Imperial Counties. To top it all off, this garbage is expensive.
The litter came with the price tag of $5.3 million to dispose it properly, marking a $3 million increase since the previous year.
Their busiest cleaning season of the year is summer.
Going into this holiday weekend, Salerno has advice for travelers.
Local
"Take the time to get the right equipment to do the job right. They're your property, your possessions. And it is a tremendous hazard," he said.
For drivers that want to report trash on the roadway, visit Caltrans website. You can also call 619-688-6670 throughout the week and 858-467-3231 after hours and on the weekend.
