Caltrans launched a statewide cleanup operation to encourage drivers to not litter the highways.
In 2012, the Valley's five major counties gathering enough waste to fill 37,000 trash bags.
Locally, that cost taxpayers more than $10,000 to clean up.
Sharri Beder Ehlert with Caltrans said, "somebody does have to pick it up and it does cost the taxpayers money. It's money we could be spending on other roadways."
Captain Sam Samra with the California Highway Patrol said, "...and you think about the cleanup crew out there dong this, not only are they physically having to labor over it, the money gets spent but look at how many lives that are exposed to dangerous conditions on our roadways."
Along with Caltrans cleanup, the California Highway Patrol is stepping-up its enforcement efforts in issuing citations to those motorists who are observed littering or not securing their cargo loads properly.