Dept. of Ecology gives local governments $500,000 for litter cleanup

Department of Ecology Press Release - October 5, 2005

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Dept. of Ecology gives local governments $500,000 for litter cleanup

YAKIMA - Seven Central Washington counties will share more than $500,000 in state grants to clean up litter and illegal dumping.

The Community Litter Cleanup Program (CLCP), administered by the Department of Ecology (Ecology), provides funding to local governments to reduce litter and illegal dumps and to provide anti-litter education in their communities.

In 2003 these counties' CLCP crews, Ecology Youth Corps and departments of Natural Resources and Corrections' crews cleaned up more than 1,000,000 pounds of litter while cleaning nearly 7,200 miles of roadway and 2,600 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 has proved very valuable to local governments for cleaning up specific litter-prone areas and illegal dump sites," said Rod Hankinson, who helps administer grants for Ecology. "Local governments have been a big help to us in our statewide litter-cleanup efforts."

Funding for the grants comes from a tax imposed on industries whose products are related to the litter problem.

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Contact: Joye Redfield-Wilder, public information manager, 509-575-2610

For more information: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/litter/

Report litterers: 1-866-LITTER-1

EDITORS, NEWS DIRECTORS: Here are the planned activities, plus a contact, for each local government receiving the grants.

Benton County will use $112,015 to combat litter and illegal dumping. In the calendar year 2003, some 198,542 pounds of illegal dumped material was cleaned up on 519 miles of roadway and 134 acres in Benton County. Contact: Al Thompson, 509-735-6555, ext. 3290.
Chelan County will receive $46,875 for cleaning up litter and illegal dumping. In 2003, 183,496 pounds of waste was cleaned up on 806 miles of roadway and 279 acres. Contact: Brenda Harn, 509-667-6631.
Douglas County will have $75,701 in funds earmarked for cleaning up litter and illegal dumping as well as anti-litter education. In Douglas County, 38,075 pounds of waste was cleaned up on 872 miles of roadway and 173 acres in 2003. Contact: Ron Draggoo, 509-886-0899.
Kittitas County is receiving $160,480, which includes money for cleanup of litter and illegal dumping as well as an education program. In 2003, Kittitas County crews cleaned up 196,715 pounds on 1,854 miles and 1,002 acres. Contact: Patti Johnson, 509-962-7070.
Klickitat County will use $ 49,132 to combat litter and illegal dumping. Klickitat County crews cleaned up 80,475 pounds waste on 773 miles and 43 acres in 2003. Contact: John Longfellow, 509-773-4448.
Okanogan County has been authorized to spend $55,256 on cleanup of litter and illegal dumping. Okanogan County gathered up 179.863 pounds of waste on 1,358 miles of roadway and one-acre of public land in 2001. Contact: Noah Stewart, 509-422-7230.
Yakima County has $81,207 to spend on cleaning up litter and illegal dumping and education. Yakima County crews hauled in 188,590 pounds on 961 miles of roadway and 904 acres of public land in 2003. Contact: Wendy Mifflin, 509-574-2450.