Rescheduled Earth Day event removes 460 pounds of trash

More than 20 volunteers showed up May 23 for a rescheduled Earth Day litter removal event, according to Key Budge, community engagement manager for the city of Tehachapi.

”Due to rain and snow in April the litter removal was postponed for safety concerns,” Budge said. On May 23, he said, more than 460 pounds of litter and debris was removed from the Antelope Run Walk/Bike Path, Cherry Lane and Valley Boulevard.

“Our community continues to show up, roll up their sleeves, and put sweat equity into Tehachapi. That’s one of the reasons this is a special place to call home,” Budge said.

“At this cleanup event it was our Realtors and real estate agents who came out in force and volunteered. We also had business owners step up and volunteer their services. This was the biggest collaboration of businesses, government agencies and community volunteers to join for an Earth Day clean up event in recent memory.”

While giving the safety briefing to the volunteers at the beginning of the event, the manager of Sonic Drive-In announced the restaurant would donate large drinks to

all participants after the event.

”He said he knew it was going to be warm today and just appreciated everyone volunteering to clean up the community,” Budge said.

Tim Kirkpatrick, owner of Tehachapi Mountain Hauling Service, donated time and equipment to gather the bags of debris,

transported them to the landfill and paid the disposal fees.

Caltrans donated safety gear, pickers and trash bags for the event, and had its team cleaning up litter along Highway 202 in Old Town Tehachapi at the same time.

Budge thanked the Tehachapi Area Association of Realtors, Tehachapi Mountain Hauling

Service, Sonic Drive-In, Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District, Caltrans, Tehachapi Police

Department and the city’s Public Works Department for help with the event.