News Releases
Republic Services is committed to helping keep our planet clean.
LAS VEGAS (March 14, 2023) – In 2017, Republic Services and The Mint 400 Off-Road Race joined forces for their inaugural Dash for Trash event. This desert cleanup was created to help remove illegally dumped waste from the Mojave Desert, home to The Mint 400 race course, and promote sustainable and responsible outdoor recreation.
With the help of nearly 150 volunteers 14.5 tons of trashed was removed that first year. Seeing the positive impact the event had and the enthusiasm of volunteers, Republic Services and The Mint 400 made the cleanup an annual event. The cleanup is now recognized by many as the unofficial start of The Mint 400 race week.
The 2023 Mint 400 Desert Cleanup Presented by Republic Services removed a record-setting 46.5 tons with the help of nearly 250 volunteers. Over the past seven years, hundreds of volunteers have removed a collective 187.87 tons – or 375,740 pounds – of waste, helping to keep public lands clean, open and accessible for all.
“Republic Services is committed to helping keep our planet clean,” said Republic Services Sustainability Ambassador Jeremy Walters. “We value our partnership with The Mint 400 and thank our volunteers for their time and dedication over the past seven years. We have a responsibility to leave nature better than we found it, and removing more than 375,000 pounds of trash from some of the toughest terrain in the Mojave Desert is an inspiring feat.”
The Mint 400 and Republic Services have found a unique way to foster environmental stewardship within the recreational crowd often mistaken as the source of the problem the cleanup has aimed to resolve.