Washington has now enlisted the help of a critter to remind people to keep the state’s roads clean.
The star of Washington’s new “We Keep Washington Litter Free” campaign is a marmot puppet who’s reminding people to think before they throw trash out of their car or don’t secure their loads – and let debris fly out the back of trucks.
“To change behavior, we have to reach people before litter hits the ground,” said Amber Smith, the department's statewide litter prevention coordinator, in a news release. “This campaign brings those everyday moments to life and reminds us to listen to that inner voice that tells us to do the right thing. Even when no one else is around, our choices matter. Small decisions each day add up to a cleaner state we can all be proud to call home.”
The new ads, featuring the Washington endemic marmot, ask people to not toss their trash – even when no one is looking.
Every year, lawmakers dole out $800,000 to the Department of Ecology for its litter prevention efforts. That includes three bilingual campaigns, litter bag and cargo net giveaways, and updated websites, according to the department.
According to the state Department of Ecology, around 38 million pounds of litter gets tossed in public areas every year.
Several litter crews with the Department of Ecology pick up litter on state highways, while the Department of Transportation picks up large items off state highways and partners with the Department of Corrections for additional pickup. Other local governments can receive state funding for local roads and off ramps.
Last year, the department – along with the Washington State Department of Transportation – spent $17 million to pick up litter around the state. But officials say that price tag doesn’t cover all of it; they can only collect a fraction of what’s left on landscapes.
Department of Ecology leaders say they’re still finalizing totals from last year. However, in 2024, crews picked up at least 6.2 million pounds of litter and cleaned over 19,000 miles of roadway.
Illegal dumping picked up during the pandemic, so much so that state lawmakers proposed a bill in 2024, which changed illegal dumping penalties from criminal charges to civil infractions, similar to a parking ticket fine.
A 2022 study found most of the litter crews pick up consists of cigarette butts, food wrappers and snack bags, glass bottles, and construction and demolition debris. New data on Washington's litter is expected next year.
