Wind Event Left Thousands of Tons of Green Debris

The January 7-8 windstorm event coupled with the Eaton Fire left the City grappling with 8,000 tons of green waste and 300 downed trees.

The winds kicked up on January 7, with some gusts exceeding 60 mph. The event was forecast to be the worst windstorm since 2011. A wildfire later erupted in Eaton Canyon.

Driven by the strong wind gusts, the fire destroyed 9,000 homes in Altadena and Pasadena leaving 17 people dead and more than 14,000 acres burned.

100 City employees lost their homes as a result of the disasters. So far, the City has received 27 claims for tree-related damages.

In response to the extensive damage, the city established 39 cleanup zones, each assigned a dedicated team for debris removal. Teams consisted of a backhoe/loader, two dump trucks, and three to four workers, working Monday through Saturday. The work was completed in early February.

“The City of Pasadena’s Public Works Department oversaw an extensive cleanup effort to remove green waste debris from the recent windstorm and fire,” the City said in a statement. “As of Wednesday, February 5, cleanup crews have finished clearing the green waste debris from the streets.”

More than 2,500 truckloads of materials were processed at a public drop-off site and transformed into 100% organic compost and mulch for recycling.

In late February, the Pasadena City Council approved additional funding to support future street tree planting efforts, ensuring the city can replace lost trees and continue its environmental recovery.