Publication Summary

In 1997, a Litter Task Force was created to evaluate Washington′s litter collection and prevention activities. Recommendations from the Task Force were incorporated as 1998 amendments to the Litter Act. One of the provisions of this legislation directs the Washington State Department of Ecology to conduct a statewide litter survey, which is to be used to guide prevention and clean-up efforts. Previous litter surveys had been conducted by the State in 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, and 1990. The Task Force concluded that previous data may not be representative of today′s situation, although it recommended that the goals of previous surveys be carried forward. Specifically, the goals were to collect "usable data on current litter volumes, composition, sources, the groups contributing to the problem, effectiveness of litter prevention, and levels of littering in different areas of the state."

In 1997, a Litter Task Force was created to evaluate Washington′s litter collection and prevention activities. Recommendations from the Task Force were incorporated as 1998 amendments to the Litter Act. One of the provisions of this legislation directs the Washington State Department of Ecology to conduct a statewide litter survey, which is to be used to guide prevention and clean-up efforts. Previous litter surveys had been conducted by the State in 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, and 1990. The Task Force concluded that previous data may not be representative of today′s situation, although it recommended that the goals of previous surveys be carried forward. Specifically, the goals were to collect "usable data on current litter volumes, composition, sources, the groups contributing to the problem, effectiveness of litter prevention, and levels of littering in different areas of the state."

Three separate studies were conducted for this comprehensive litter survey. Each study is detailed in separate volumes, which together create the complete litter report. Volume 1 provides a summary of the entire litter study, Volume 2 is the Litter Generation and Composition Report, Volume 3 is the Litter Focus Group Report, and Volume 4 is the Telephone Survey Report.

Volume 1 (this report) is organized as follows: Section 2 provides a brief summary including results of each separate study; section 3 states conclusions and recommendations; and section 4 compares this study to previous Washington state litter studies.