CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Community members volunteered on Saturday to spruce up Clearlake and remove tons of garbage from around the city during the 10th annual Clearlake Clean Up Day.

Volunteers of all ages teamed up to clean up multiple areas of the city and beyond.

More than 70 cubic yards of waste were collected along with a dumpster overflowing with electronic waste items.

A portion of an old dock that had washed up on the shore of Austin Beach also was collected for disposal.

Clearlake Public Works Director Doug Herren welcomed and thanked a volunteer force of more than 100 to kick off the event at clean up headquarters in Austin Park early Saturday morning.

Volunteers were provided with safety vests, trash pickers, collection bags and information to help ensure their safety.

“It's wonderful how the community comes together to help itself,” Clearlake Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson said. “It's all inclusive. We've got bikers. We've got religious organizations. We've got business people, school children and boaters, all working for the good of the city.”

Volunteers scrambled in all directions headed to their designated clean up areas.

One team headed out to the Parkwoods area in Clearlake Park. Another took off for Burns Valley Creek and Memory Lane. Others concentrated on City Hall, Austin and Redbud parks, Lakeshore Drive and areas around local schools.

Volunteers joined Cathy Wilson, who started the clean up effort 10 years ago, on Cache Creek to take the effort to the water via kayaks. District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith and volunteer Chuck Leonard helped them out in an air boat.

A team representing Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association focused on Anderson Marsh Historical State Park in Lower Lake.

Lake County Fire Protection District checked in ensure its availability should an emergency arise and a team from Clearlake Waste Solutions was geared up to ensure proper collection and disposal of all the waste.

“We've got the routine down,” Julie Price, Clearlake Waste Solutions community liaison, said as her team loaded an old coach and wrangled the tattered dock into a truck. “It's like second-nature now in the 10th year.”

Price said in all her years participating in the event, this year's collection numbers look to be highest. She said in addition to waste collection numbers, 200 tires were collected for disposal.

Clearlake Waste Solutions also hosted an educational booth with materials about composting, recycling and other waste diversion options including its tire amnesty program, which allows Lake County residents to dispose of up to nine passenger or light truck tires free of charge at either of two recycle centers located in Clearlake and Lakeport.

Proof of residency is required and auto repair or salvage businesses are not allowed to participate.

Clearlake Waste Solutions customers can also have up to two bulky items collected per year without charge. Bulky items typically consist of furniture such as couches and mattresses.

For more information about Clearlake Waste Solutions services and tips for reducing your environmental impact, visit www.CandSwaste.com .

Email Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .