Big Jump in Highway Litter Pickup

Washington State Department of Ecology

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 20, 1997

97-147

Contact: Jim Pendowski, (360) 407-6103, manager, solid waste program
Cullen Stephenson, (425) 649-7056, litter statistics
Larry Altose, (425) 649-7192, public information, western Washington
Jani Gilbert, (509) 456-4464, public information, eastern Washington

Big Jump in Highway Litter Pickup

Olympia, WA - The amount of litter picked up by the Ecology Youth Corps so far this summer along Washington's highways already exceeds the totals for each of the last two years, according to mid-season estimates from the Washington Department of Ecology. Officials plan to study what's causing the roadside trash increase and are urging people to keep litter off the landscape.

Here are Ecology's statistics for bags of highway litter collected the last few years and the first half of 1997 (a bag holds 20 pounds or more of trash):

1993 29,644
1994 29,820
1995 23,506
1996 20,865
1997 25,000 (preliminary count, 1st half of year)

"Washington looks a lot better without the litter and we all need to do our parts to keep the state clean," said Ecology's solid waste program manager Jim Pendowski. "Keep a litter bag in your car and your boat, then use it. Cover and tie down your loads. On the trail, pack out your trash. Look for the litter boxes at rest stops, trailheads and marinas. It makes so much sense to prevent litter than to spend money cleaning it up."

Ecology Youth Corps crews gather litter and recyclable materials from roadsides and highway medians during the spring, summer and fall. This week 14-17 year olds are completing their summer work programs. Older youth will continue working into the early fall.

Editors, reporters:

Ecology Youth Corps litter clean-up crews work out of each of Ecology's four regional offices. To arrange visits with litter crews, please contact your nearest EYC coordinator:

Central Region (509) 575-2490: Melissa Gildersleeve, Glenn Duncan
Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Yakima counties.

Eastern Region (509) 456-2296: Mike Hibbler , Gary Lambacher
Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman counties.

Northwest Region (425) 649-7000: Cullen Stephenson, Vicki Colgan
Island, King, Kitsap, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Whatcom counties.

Southwest Region (360) 407-6300: Laurie Davies, Art Hugo
Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston, Wahkiakum counties.