Combat The Effects of Plastic Pollution in Bakersfield: Safe Storage Solutions at Derrel’s Mini Storage

A Wake-Up Call for Bakersfield: Waste, Fires, and the Role of Storage

On March 29, 2025, southeast Bakersfield was rocked by a large fire that broke out in an abandoned warehouse near East Belle Terrace and Madison Street​. Firefighters battled for hours to control the flames, which tore through the structure, filled with unknown debris.

While investigations continue, the visual evidence—thick black smoke, massive flames, and piles of material strewn across the site—offers a troubling truth: unregulated waste, particularly plastic-based debris, is becoming a serious fire hazard across Bakersfield.

Abandoned properties like this aren’t rare. They’ve become unintentional dumping grounds for everything from household items to leftover construction and packaging waste. Unfortunately, plastic materials are often at the center of the problem.

The Bigger Picture: Plastic Pollution in California

According to California’s Source Reduction Baseline Technical Report, the state saw an estimated 2.9 million tons of plastic waste in 2023—comprising over 171 billion individual plastic components​. This includes:

• 2.4 million tons of plastic packaging, such as wrappers, containers, and shipping materials.
• 0.5 million tons of single-use plastic food service ware, like utensils and takeout containers.

What’s more alarming is the breakdown:

• 87% of this plastic waste came from primary packaging—the kind that wraps products directly.
• 16% came from tertiary packaging, like e-commerce and shipping materials.
• This packaging isn’t always disposed of responsibly—and when it’s dumped or left in abandoned buildings, it becomes a hazard.

This data highlights an urgent need for individuals and communities to rethink how they handle unused plastic-packed items, especially in fast-growing cities like Bakersfield.

Why It Matters Locally: Environmental and Safety Consequences

Plastic pollution doesn’t just float in oceans or line distant highways—it’s here in our city, too. In urban environments, mismanaged plastic waste contributes to:

• Increased fire risk, particularly in hot, dry regions like Bakersfield, where flammable plastic debris in abandoned lots or garages can ignite easily.
• Drainage and flood issues, as plastic blocks stormwater systems during heavy rains.
• Air quality degradation, especially when plastics burn, releasing toxic chemicals.
• Blight and community decline, reducing property values and deterring investment in neighborhoods with visible waste and illegal dumping.

In short, poor waste management is not only unsightly—it’s unsafe.

How Derrel’s Mini Storage Offers a Safer, Greener Alternative

At Derrel’s Mini Storage, we believe your belongings deserve more than being crammed into garages or abandoned to gather dust—or worse, contribute to local hazards.

Here’s how we help you store responsibly:

1. Keep Plastic Out of the Waste Stream

From holiday decorations to bulk food storage and seasonal gear, most household items are sold or stored in plastic packaging. These materials take up space and often get tossed prematurely.

By choosing a secure, temperature-controlled storage unit at Derrel’s, you preserve those items longer—reducing waste and minimizing your contribution to the local plastic load.

2. Reduce Fire Hazards at Home and in the Community

Overfilled closets and makeshift home storage often put you at greater risk. Electrical outlets overloaded by stacked boxes, or plastics placed near heat sources, can be a recipe for disaster.

By storing overflow items offsite, you not only reclaim your home’s space but also protect your family and neighbors from potential fire hazards.

3. Deter Illegal Dumping and Neighborhood Decline

Overflow leads to overflow. When people run out of space, the next step is often to donate, discard, or—far too often—illegally dump. Empty fields, alleyways, and even abandoned warehouses become prime targets.

When residents have access to clean, convenient self-storage, it significantly reduces the need to “make room” by tossing items somewhere unsafe or inappropriate.

4. Support Community-Wide Environmental Goals

California’s SB 54 mandates reductions in single-use plastic packaging over the coming years. While large-scale reforms will take time, individuals can act now.

Using Derrel’s Mini Storage helps support the goals of reduced plastic pollution by extending the life cycle of items, making space for better waste sorting, and discouraging unnecessary plastic disposal.

Real Solutions, Right Here in Bakersfield

At Derrel’s Mini Storage, our Bakersfield locations are built with your convenience—and the environment—in mind. Our facilities feature:

• 24/7 video surveillance for safety
• Drive-up and climate-controlled units in a variety of sizes
• Flexible lease terms for short- or long-term storage
• Friendly, local staff who care about keeping our city clean

Whether you’re storing seasonal decorations, moving between homes, or just decluttering, choosing Derrel’s means choosing sustainability and community responsibility.

Be Part of the Solution: Store with Purpose

The plastic problem won’t go away on its own—but together, we can make smarter choices. By storing instead of discarding, organizing instead of dumping, and choosing clean, safe storage solutions, we help reduce the burden of plastic pollution and prevent disasters like the March 29 warehouse fire.

Ready to make the switch to safer, more responsible storage?

Visit your nearest Derrel’s Mini Storage location in Bakersfield or call us today to reserve your unit.

Because a cleaner Bakersfield starts with smarter storage.