New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on May 1 that more than 7,000 volunteers collected a total of 60,046 pounds of litter during the Great New Mexico Cleanup event held April 17 and 18. The two-day event was part of the Breaking Bad Habits campaign and is described as the largest organized cleanup in state history.
The initiative brought together communities across New Mexico to address litter ahead of Earth Day. According to organizers, thirty-three local partner organizations participated in cleanups and beautification projects statewide. The campaign also featured appearances by the Salamanca Cousins—characters from “Breaking Bad”—to highlight efforts in several cities.
“New Mexicans take immense pride in the beauty of our state, and the Great New Mexico Cleanup showed what is possible when our communities band together to accomplish a common goal,” said Governor Lujan Grisham. “I’m grateful to every volunteer, partner and local leader who stepped up to make this cleanup a resounding success. Together, we are building a cleaner, healthier New Mexico today and for future generations.”
The Breaking Bad Habits program was launched under Governor Lujan Grisham’s administration in October 2024 with inspiration from “Breaking Bad.” In its first year it coordinated more than 250 events with over 19,000 volunteers removing more than ten million pounds of litter and hundreds of tons of illegally dumped tires. The campaign’s commercials have been viewed nearly seventy-three million times online.
The New Mexico State Executive facilitated public engagement through appointment applications and handled requests for assistance, events and records as part of the state’s executive branch according to the official website. It operates from Room 400 on the fourth floor at the State Capitol at 490 Old Santa Fe Trail in Santa Fe according to its official website. The executive branch promotes public service careers to support administrative goals as reported by its official site.
Michelle Lujan Grisham serves as governor alongside Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales; cabinet secretaries include those for health and education according to its official website. Its programs focus on early childhood education initiatives, infrastructure tracking efforts, combating food insecurity and other priorities, all centered on serving residents within New Mexico as stated by officials.
The Breaking Bad Habits initiative continues encouraging residents to participate in cleanups or report illegal dumping throughout the year.
