New litter cleanup program targets Merced’s trash ‘hot spots’ at city parks, downtown
A new partnership between Merced and a local nonprofit is slated to give the city’s blighted areas some necessary extra care and attention, a city news release announced Monday.
The two-year service agreement with Restore Merced is set to kick off a new litter abatement program to address the city’s litter “hot spots.” The Merced-based nonprofit will work to beautify the community and improve its economic integrity by focusing on the city’s most heavily littered areas, the release said.
Locations targeted by the new program include sites bordering CaITrans and railroad properties, the downtown district, perimeter streets and gutters at main city parks, sports complexes, alleyways, and other public areas in need throughout the city.
“Litter is preventable, and cleanup efforts are labor-intensive,” said City of Merced Mayor Matthew Serratto. “The city spends more than $100,000 annually on routine alley and city right of way cleanups, which does not include the ballooning costs affiliated with litter removal.”
Restore Merced was selected to facilitate the new program after an April 2021 solid, organic, and recycling waste rate study, where the City Council called for a litter abatement service vendor to provide the removal and disposal of litter, trash, and debris from needy sites throughout the city.
“This is about affirming dignity,” Matt St Pierre, executive director, and co-founder at Restore Merced, said in the release.
“Our organization strives to provide economic stability and community for individuals with barriers to employment. This project will provide work experience to more than 20 individuals. As a result, we expect to see exponentially more neighbors transformed through the gift of meaningful work while providing a service to our community during the coming months.”
To promote the long-term impact people can have through sustainable practices, the city plans to continue engaging and educating the Merced community about litter reduction, recycling and beautification through its Community Clean Up Program.
With assistance from Restore Merced, volunteer groups, and nonprofit organizations, “unsightly” community spaces will be transformed into areas of pride, the release said.
“We all impact the environment and cause damage that will become increasingly difficult to mitigate,” Serratto said. “However, we know that similar programs have successfully helped cities and counties across the state keep neighborhoods and roadsides litter-free.”
Groups planning to host a neighborhood or community cleanup can post their event on the MercedCommunityCalendar.org and coordinate services through the Public Works Department.
