Washington State Department of Ecology

News Release

Department of Ecology News Release - June 27, 2000

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Ecology Department finds litter problem is bigger than ever

OLYMPIA -- Litter pickup crews for the state Department of Ecology are heading out again to begin their annual effort to remove the wintertime accumulation of litter from Washington's highway system.

Now in its 25th year, the Ecology Youth Corps employs teenagers from 14 to 17 years old to pick up litter on state roadways and in public areas. The efforts of EYC, along with crews from local community groups and the state departments of Transportation, Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation, and Corrections, mean there are more people than ever working on the state's litter problem.

Despite this large cleanup effort, projected this year to reach four million pounds, a recent litter survey by Ecology showed that only 25 percent of litter on the roadways is being picked up.

According to Ecology officials, the results illustrate the need for a litter prevention strategy coordinated among state agencies, local governments and businesses.

"Crews are picking up three times as much as they used to, but the trash is piling up on the highways faster than they can pick it up," said Cullen Stephenson, who manages Ecology's solid-waste program. "Sixteen million pounds of junk are littered each year. With that much litter out there, we can't keep pointing a finger at the next person. We all need to start taking responsibility."

"The study showed that people aren't aware of how big this problem really is, so curbing littering behavior is a bigger challenge than anyone initially thought," said Megan Thomas, litter-programs coordinator for Ecology.

The state cannot reach the legislatively set goal of zero litter through cleanup efforts alone, Stephenson noted. Reducing litter will involve educating the public about litter's negative social, financial and environmental effects, and also doing more to enforce litter laws.

"Washington taxpayers spend millions each year on litter cleanup - and it's a problem that's almost completely avoidable," Stephenson said. "Every time someone throws something out their car window, they're throwing away money, too."

Ecology Youth Corps crews are assigned out of each of the agency's four regions in Washington: central, eastern, northwest and southwest.

Ninety youths will participate in Ecology's central region, comprised of Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan and Yakima counties.

Ninety-six youths will participate in Ecology's eastern region, comprised of Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla and Whitman.

Ninety-four youths will participate in Ecology's northwest region, comprised of Island, King, Kitsap, San Juan, Snohomish and Whatcom counties.

Ninety-six youths will participate in Ecology's southwest region, comprised of Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston and Wahkiakum counties.

A summary of Ecology's Washington State Litter Report is available at http://www.wa.gov/ecology/biblio/0007022.html

Media Contact: Caitlin Cormier, public information officer, 360-407-6149; pager, 360-971-5536

Note for editors and news directors: Please contact Caitlin Cormier for a copy of the litter survey report.

To arrange to meet crews for videotaping, photographs and interviews in the central region, please contact Rod Hankinson, EYC coordinator for Ecology's Central region, at (509) 454-7209.

To arrange to meet crews for videotaping, photographs and interviews in the eastern region, please contact Gary Lambacher, EYC coordinator for Ecology's Eastern region, at (509) 456-5054.

To arrange to meet crews for videotaping, photographs and interviews in the northwest region, please contact Vicki Colgan, EYC coordinator for Ecology's Northwest region, at (425) 649-7224.

To arrange to meet crews for videotaping, photographs and interviews in the southwest region, please contact Art Hugo, EYC coordinator for Ecology's Southwest region, at (360) 407-6351.