Local governments receive more than $760,000 for litter cleanup

Department of Ecology Press Release - October 19, 2005

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Local governments receive more than $760,000 for litter cleanup

OLYMPIA - Litter-cleanup efforts in 12 counties in southwestern Washington will benefit from more than $760,000 in grants from the Department of Ecology (Ecology) over the next two years.

The grants are awarded through Ecology's community litter cleanup program, which helps local governments clean up litter and illegal dumps, provide anti-litter education in their communities, and purchase equipment.

Ecology awarded grants to Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston and Wahkiakum counties.

Using similar grants in the past two years, these 12 counties cleaned up nearly 2 million pounds of litter and illegally dumped material while cleaning more than 11,000 miles of roadway and 300 acres of public land. More than 183,000 pounds of the material was recycled.

Unlike many state-grant programs, the cleanup grants do not require matching money from local governments. However, the governments often contribute in other ways, such as waiving disposal fees, paying for crew labor and donating the use of county equipment.

"Local governments use this funding primarily to clean up litter-prone roadways and illegal dump sites," said Mike Drumright, who administers litter grants for Ecology. "We are glad the local governments are involved. They play a valuable role in Ecology's statewide litter efforts."

Drumright said these efforts have included promoting the state's litter-prevention campaign, Litter and It Will Hurt.

Funding for this grant program 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 began in July.

The following counties received funding:

Clallam County: The sheriff's office will use $58,145 to operate work crews county correctional-facility inmates to clean litter from county roads and to clean illegal dumps on selected roadways and controlled areas by request and partnership with other local governments. Contact: Sgt. Matt Blore, 360-417-2284.

Clark County: The public works department will use $113,826 to operate offender work crews to clean cities and communities of Clark County and to clean illegal dumpsites in rural areas. The county will also purchase a trailer with an electric hoist, a 15-passenger extended van to transport work crews, and a utility trailer. Contact: Rob Guttridge, 360-397-6118, ext. 4344.

Cowlitz County: The corrections department will use $65,921 to operate work crews of county correctional-facility inmates to clean moderate traffic areas. The county will also purchase litter barrels, a shed and some equipment for use at the Harry Gardner Park. Contact: Joseph Hennessey, 360-577-3105, ext. 2259.

Grays Harbor County: The public services department will use $101,749 to oversee the supervision of work crews made up of county correctional-facility inmates to clean litter from county and state roads, and from public access areas. Crews also will be used to clean illegal-dumps sites. The county will purchase a new dump truck to collect, transport and unload illegally-dumped material. Contact: Mark Cox, 360-249-4222.

Jefferson County: The sheriff's office will use $55,634 to operate work crews of county correctional-facility inmates to pick up litter from county, state and city roads and to clean illegal dumps on roadways and controlled areas by request and partnership with other local governments. They also will provide litter and illegal-dump prevention information to community organizations. Contact: Sgt. Gary Maxfield, 360-385-3831.

Lewis County: The public works department will use $59,980 to supervise work crews made up of county correctional-facility inmates year round, weather permitting. They will pick up litter and clean illegal-dump sites. The county will also purchase a lift gate to enable crews to move heavy items. Contact: Roger Schang, 360-740-1479.

Mason County: The sheriff's office will use $41,568 to operate work crews of county correctional-facility inmates to clean litter from county roads and beaches and to clean illegal dump sites. They will also continue to support the state's anti-litter campaign, Litter and It Will Hurt, through media outreach. Contact: Chief Deputy Howard Armfield, 360-427-9670.

Pacific County: The community development department will use $38,406 to support volunteer cleanup groups to clean litter from beaches and to hire temporary employees to clean litter from county roads and illegal dumps. The county also will support the Ecology Youth Corps to clean state roads and illegal dumps, as time and money allow. Contact: Kay Hasu, 360-875-9356.

Pierce County: The public works department will use $91,155 on education, outreach and support of the county's litter program. The county will modify disposal containers so they can be transported to illegal-dump cleanup sites on county vehicles. Education and outreach efforts will include developing programs to assist 12 targeted communities to clean, and to develop incentives for proper disposal and abatement, and various media campaigns to the public. Contact: Craig Swanson, 253-798-4660.

Skamania County: The sheriff's office will use $52,286 to operate inmate and offender crews to clean litter and illegal dumps from roadways, parks and other public access areas. They also intend to educate students through the Adopt-a-Deputy Program that puts an officer in the schools on a regular basis to collaborate with students to identify those who litter and illegally dump waste. Contact: Dale Midland, 509-427-9490.

Thurston County: The county will use $64,305 to operate work crews of county correctional-facility inmates to clean up litter on Interstate 5 and State Route interchanges, public access areas, and illegal-dump sites off county and state roads. The county also will continue to support the state's anti-litter campaign, Litter and It Will Hurt, through media outreach. Contact: Michelle Andrews, 360-754-3355.

Wahkiakum County: The sheriff's office will use $26,427 to oversee a crew of inmates and offenders picking up litter throughout the county. They will also coordinate with the Wahkiakum County High School driver's education program to educate new drivers about the hazards of unsecured loads, the effect of litter on human health and the environment, and the associated penalties. Contact: Dan Bardsley, 360-795-3242.

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Media Contact: Caitlin Cormier, public information manager 360-407-6149

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

Report violators: Call 866-LITTER-1