Our Mission
Keep Our Desert Clean seeks to preserve the natural beauty of the high desert areas surrounding Joshua Tree National Park. Our goal is to reduce the amount of garbage and litter that accumulates in the open land and to divert as much waste as possible from landfills. Whether it’s a discarded tire left on a trail, construction materials dumped on a dirt road, bags gathering in an open lot, a campsite not cleaned up, or a full-fledged illegal dump site, we are here to clean up the mess and dispose of it properly. We will achieve this goal in the following ways:
Trash Cleanup Program. People can notify us of illegal dump sites or other locations in need of cleanup through our Web site, www.keepourdesertclean.org , or by calling us at 760.673.9467. Whether it’s on a trail, in a field, on a dirt road, or on vacant land, we will clean up the area and dispose of the waste properly.
Residential Pickup. We will implement a regular weekly pickup service program for Household Hazardous Wastes, recyclables, and items that can be donated. Residents may call us at 760.673.9467 to find out when we will be in their area and to schedule a pickup appointment.
One-stop Drop-off Service. We will also have a physical location where people can bring household hazardous waste articles, old tires, furniture, clothing, or recyclables. We will sort the items and dispose of them appropriately—whether it’s transferring items to a recycling center, delivering donated goods to thrift stores, transporting material to HHW centers, or taking trash to the dump.
Community Awareness. We are reaching out to local businesses, community groups, and media and hope to partner with them to raise awareness about the harmful effects littering and illegal waste dumping have on our community and environment.
Educational Programs. We are in the process of developing educational programs to teach our youth about the harmful effects littering and illegal dumping have on our environment, and focus on ways to reduce the amount of garbage in our landfills by teaching how to recycle things such as bottles and cans, donate items like furniture and clothes, and how to properly dispose of harmful materials such as Household Hazardous Wastes.
Partnering With the National Park Service. We will offer assistance to Joshua Tree National Park with campsite cleanups and other garbage problems, as well as making sure the roads leading to and surrounding the park are litter-free.
We are in our infancy and look forward to growing as an organization and growing with our community. We are dedicated to doing the best job we can in cleaning up the high desert areas around Joshua Tree, including Yucca Valley, Pioneertown, Landers, and 29 Palms. We are here to keep our desert beautiful. To keep our desert serene. To Keep Our Desert Clean.
*Examples of Household Hazardous Waste include automotive, household, and appliance batteries; fluorescent lamps and bulbs; light bulbs; ink cartridges; mercury thermometers; cell phones; paint; household electronics and appliances; fire extinguishers; smoke detectors; cooking oil; motor oil; automotive fluids; indoor and outdoor pesticides; swimming pool chemicals; and aerosol cans.