Community clean up project
University Exit, Berkeley encampment trash gone! “We put in place solutions that reduces littering"
Hope your well. Could you review this article, add in some quotes and adjust where necessary? Also do you have any photos or better yet, videos fromUniversity Ave Exit has been an eyesore for many as they exit I80 to enter Berkeley. Trash from illegal contractor dumping, local inhabitants and the Freeway have marred the landscape.
4 weeks ago this all changed when Untrash the Planet stepped in. After evaluating the University Exit trash problem, Untrash determined the primary issue was CalTrans’ approach to allowing non-CalTrans people to enter their property and clean. He explains how he overcame the challenge witH CalTrans by working collaboratively with them.
Who does the University Exit trash cleanup belong to?
The State of California. They own all land typically within 50-100 feet of either side of the freeway and exits. CalTrans, an agency managed by the State, operates and maintains it. CalTrans is funded 100% by the state. They’re budget is $110 million a year to maintain 10,000 miles of freeways in California. This is jot enough money to clean everything.
Berkeley’s fault?
Residents of Berkeley want to know why the trash has not been cleaned up. Many erroneously blame the City of Berkeley for not cleaning University Exit. CalTrans has told The City they cannot enter the land because it has no jurisdiction to enter or clean the land. The city has not been able to get permission from CalTrans to do this. Ben Bartlett, Berkeley City Councilman says, he “likes UnTrash East Bay. (This is an example of) Pro-active community members with a desire to solve intractable problems. We need more of these out of box thinkers.”
Why won’t CalTrans grant the city of Berkeley access to clean up trash?
CalTrans is extremely risk averse and has policies that disallow any outside agency, other than CalTrans, to enter amd clean up. CalTrans says the liability and risk is too high for any outside (non CalTrans) workers to enter.
Solution? Untrash the Planet
e start by cleaning up trashed areas, then we put in place solutions that reduce littering and dumping permanently. We have an experimental and data-driven approach, and trial many different interventions to reduce thrashing.
Untrash the Planet!, an obvious need, but only recently put together, a local crowd sourcing neighborhood trash pickup app that has been deployed in Western University Encampments, Aquatic Park, Grizzly Peak, Strawberry Canyon, Wildcat Canyon, Mosswood Park in Oakland, Berkeley Streets, Project Gallery and
Aquatic Park.
They start by cleaning up trashed areas, then put in place solutions that reduce littering and dumping permanently. He explains, “Our goal is to eliminate thrashing permanently and our Mission is to solve the trash problem at its roots: by changing the social norms, and fixing the structural problems that drive littering and dumping.”
We start by cleaning up trashed areas, then we put in place solutions that reduce littering and dumping permanently. We have an experimental and data-driven approach, and trial many different interventions to reduce thrashing.
Untrash East Bay Currently has 7 Active Projects including Western University Encampments, Aquatic Park, Grizzly Peak, Strawberry Canyon, Wildcat Canyon, Mosswood Park in Oakland, and Berkeley Streets.
Untrash’s Mission is to solve the trash problem at its roots: by changing the social norms, and fixing the structural problems that drive littering and dumping.
They start by cleaning up trashed areas, then we put in place solutions that reduce littering and dumping permanently. We have an experimental and data-driven approach, and trial many different interventions to reduce thrashing.
The goal is to eliminate thrashing permanently..