New Mexico introduced Yucky the Yucca on Friday, a grumpy new mascot meant to get residents to stop littering and help keep the state’s desert clean, as part of the Breaking Bad Habits and #KeepLitterOut campaigns.
According to the campaign’s website, Yucky is based on the yucca, New Mexico’s state plant. Her story begins with a plant proud of her name until wind-blown plastic bags, wrappers and bottles get caught in her spiky leaves and leave her messy and miserable. The character is aimed especially at children and families.
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The Lujan Grisham administration launched the anti-littering campaign in October 2024, with earlier ads featuring Bryan Cranston as his “Breaking Bad” character, Walter White. In 2025, more than 19,000 volunteers removed over 10.5 million pounds of litter at 250 cleanup events organized with 190 local groups, the governor’s office said.
Residents can join community cleanups, organize their own or share the campaign’s message.
Editor’s note: Updated Nov. 1, 2026. This story was revised to cite the state Breaking Bad Habits campaign materials it is based on. Learn how Brant.One reports in our editorial standards.
