Every Tuesday, Valerie Botta leads a volunteer group called the Takataka Club to clean up trash along the mountain slopes above Los Angeles. Armed with grabbers and bright neon gear, they remove everything from food wrappers to bulky debris, working to restore and protect the Angeles National Forest despite growing litter and graffiti.
On a misty morning in the Angeles National Forest, volunteers in yellow vests and hard hats spread out across the cliffs to collect scattered trash. Working diligently, they cleared debris that had marred the otherwise majestic mountain views.
“Cleaning Angeles Crest Highway Is No Waste of Time for This Club” – Noticing the buildup of trash during hikes in the Angeles National Forest, La Cañada Flintridge resident Valerie Botta decided to take action, teaming up with her neighbor to start cleaning it up themselves.
KTLA’s Shelby Nelson reports about the Takataka club, a dedicated volunteer group, who is doing its best to clean up the Angeles National Forest.