  |
|
|
Department of Ecology News Release - June 27, 2005
05-154
BELLEVUE – Nine local governments in northwestern Washington will share more than $937,000 in grants to address litter and illegal dumping over the next two years.
The Community Litter Cleanup Program, administered by the Department of Ecology (Ecology), provides funding to local governments to clean up litter and illegal dumps and to provide anti-litter education in their communities.
Ecology has awarded the grants to Everett, Island County, King County, Kitsap County, San Juan County, Seattle, Skagit County, Snohomish County and Whatcom County.
Using similar grants in the past two years, these nine governments cleaned up 3.1 million pounds of litter and illegally dumped material while cleaning 10,200 miles of roadway and 4,400 acres of public land.
Unlike many other state grant programs, the local governments do not have to provide matching money from their own budgets. However, they often contribute in other ways, such as waiving disposal fees, paying for crew labor and donating the use of county equipment.
"This funding is valuable for cleaning up specific litter-prone roadways and illegal dump sites," said Steven Williams, who administers litter grants for Ecology. "The cities and counties play a valuable role in Ecology's statewide litter efforts."
He said these efforts have included promoting the Litter and it will Hurt litter-prevention campaign.
Funding comes from a litter tax imposed on industries whose products are related to the litter problem. Statewide, Ecology has awarded $2.8 million to 41 local governments for litter-cleanup activities in the 2005-07 biennium, which begins in July.
###
Contact: Larry Altose, public information officer 425-649-7009; pager,
206-663-1785
Steven Williams, regional litter administrator, 425-649-7048
EDITOR/NEWS DIRECTORS NOTE: The following are planned activities in each local jurisdiction. Please note media contacts for each county.
Everett will use $59,000 to set up volunteer litter crews that will clean litter and illegal dumps on roadways and recreational areas. The city also will produce and distribute a brochure explaining the environmental and economic costs of littering. Contact: Jack Harris, 425-257-8988.
Island County will use $59,000 to set up volunteer groups to clean up litter and illegal dumps on roadways, state parks, county parks, and beaches throughout the county; conduct on-site field trips for students to selected beaches to conduct cleanups and waste sorts, and install litter prevention signs. Media contact: Janet Hall, 360-679-7391.
King County Solid Waste Division will use $147,000 to operate a work crew of correction, work-release and volunteer labor to clean up litter and illegal dumps in designated areas. The county also will provide litter and illegal-dump prevention information to area schools. Contact: Morgan John, 206-296- 8443.
Kitsap County Solid Waste will use $85,300 to operate inmate cleanup crews from Kitsap County Jail and Kitsap Juvenile Detention. The crews will focus on county roads and clean illegal dumpsites, as requested. Contact: Jon Shannon, 360-337-4898.
San Juan County Public Works will use $45,264 to operate litter pickup crews consisting of both juvenile and adult offenders and youth volunteers. The crews will devote their efforts to county roadways and parks on Lopez, Orcas, San Juan and Shaw islands. Contact: Jon Shannon, 360-370-0516.
Seattle Public Utilities will use $228,400 to operate work crews made up of Department of Corrections labor to clean up litter and illegal dumps on city, county and state roads and other public land. Seattle also will install up to 20 Litter and it will Hurt hotline signs on busy thoroughfares throughout the city. Contact: Ron Harris-White, 206-386-9765.
Skagit County Public Works will use $113,000 to oversee a crew composed of inmates and offenders sentenced to do litter pickup. The crews will clean county roadways and public access areas as well as various Department of Natural Resource and Department of Fish and Wildlife lands. The county also will purchase a new 12-passenger van to transport crews and equipment. Contact: Janice Proper, 360-336-9400.
Snohomish County Solid Waste Management will use $164,889 to oversee several litter cleanup crews supplied through the Snohomish County Work Release Program. These crews will clean litter from state and county roads and illegal dump sites. The county also will promote its covered-load ordinance and assist a city in its litter awareness efforts. Finally, the county will purchase a new truck to clean remote illegal dumps more effectively. Contact: Kathy Kiwala, 425-388-6484.
Whatcom County Solid Waste will use $64,000 for a juvenile offender crew to clean litter off roads, trail and other public lands. The county also will continue its anti-litter information campaign. Contact: Penni Lemperes, 360-676-7695.
For more information: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/litter/
Report violators: 866-LITTER-1
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
