Pasadena to Be Honored as a Clean California Community in City Hall Sign Presentation

The California State Transportation Agency and Caltrans are scheduled to present the City of Pasadena with an official Clean California Community designation sign at a ceremony at Pasadena City Hall on Thursday, May 28.

The 30-minute event, set for 11 to 11:30 a.m. at the City Hall front entrance, 100 N. Garfield Ave., recognizes Pasadena’s place among the California communities that have earned the state’s anti-litter and beautification designation. The recognition gives Pasadena residents a marker of the city’s documented, long-term commitments to litter reduction and community beautification at a moment when the community continues to recover from the January 2025 Eaton Fire.

The Clean California Community designation was created by Caltrans to encourage cities, counties, and other organizations to embrace the state’s Zero Litter goal. It is part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s $1.2 billion Clean California program, which cleans state roads, beautifies public spaces, and creates jobs. To earn the designation, a community must commit to meeting at least 10 of 15 specific criteria — including signing the state pledge, conducting an initial litter assessment, organizing regular community cleanups, placing anti-litter infrastructure, and creating a long-term sustainability plan. According to Caltrans, the designation process is free of charge.

Pasadena brings an existing environmental framework to the recognition. Its Zero Waste Pasadena 2040 plan sets a minimum 87 percent diversion goal, and the city launched a mandatory Curbside Organics Recycling program for residents on January 1, 2022. Pasadena also operates annual spring and fall curbside cleanup programs and maintains an Environmental Advisory Commission that meets monthly to advise on sustainability efforts.

State and local leaders are expected to deliver remarks before the sign is presented to city leaders. Community leaders from across the greater Los Angeles area who have earned the designation are also slated to be recognized.

The ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at Pasadena City Hall.