Caltrans is joining forces with state and local agencies, and volunteers across the state to increase public awareness on the volume and cost associated with removing trash along state highways and neighborhood streets as well as in public parks and beaches.

Caltrans District 3 maintenance crews spent Wednesday and Thursday working along highways in Chico, Sacramento, Truckee, Yolo County and Nevada County, collecting 2 tons of old tires and more than 80 cubic yards of litter and debris, enough to fill more than six dump trucks.

Highway litter ranks as the No. 1 complaint by motorists.

Last year, Caltrans District 3 maintenance and Adopt-A-Highway volunteers collected 7,418 cubic yards of trash strewn along 13,314 shoulder miles in Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sierra, Sutter, Yuba, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, El Dorado and Yolo counties.

Statewide, Caltrans spent nearly $70 million on litter removal, collecting enough litter, trash and debris from freeways to fill more than 42 Olympic size swimming pools.