WA's New Litter Prevention Campaign Offers Free Bags At Fred Meyer

WASHINGTON — Washington's transportation and ecology agencies teamed up this week to launch the new "Simple As That" litter prevention campaign, aiming to cut down on the amount of trash that makes its way to the Evergreen State's roads, parks and other green spaces.

A survey commissioned last year by the state Department of Ecology found close to three-quarters of Washingtonians do not litter, and about a quarter said they would stop if someone they knew asked them. Still, officials said more than 18 million pounds of litter accumulates in Washington annually. Earlier this year, a statewide study found more than 24,000 discarded items per mile along urban interstates.

“Litter adds up when we don’t make simple choices to properly dispose of garbage. It damages our environment, hurts wildlife, and threatens public health, safety and our economy,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “Ultimately, our success is determined by people choosing to not litter.”

Cleanup efforts led by the Washington State Department of Transportation and Department of Ecology cost $9 million annually. State crews and volunteers removed more than 800 tons of litter between January and July, but officials said that represents just a small fraction of what's left behind.

Ecology officials said the most commonly found items are discarded food wrappers, snack bags and cigarette butts, and people surveyed said not having a trash bag in the car was the leading reason why they littered.

To help cut down on litter, the new campaign focuses on three key recommendations:

• Always have a dedicated container for collecting trash. Use a litter bag while traveling to keep your vehicle tidy and reduce the chances of littering accidentally when you open a door or window. When visiting parks and other recreation areas, bring a bag with you so it’s easy to pack out what you packed in.
• Hold on to trash from your travels until you reach a waste receptacle at a gas station, rest area or your destination. It may not seem like a big deal to toss the occasional bag or bottle on the ground, but those decisions add up to millions of pounds of litter (and millions of dollars of clean up) every year in Washington.
• Live litter free and help others do the same. Make sure your friends and family know how to live litter free and help them make better choices. When we all look out for each other, it makes a big difference for our state.

The state is also teaming up with Fred Meyer stores to advertise and provide free car litter bags to shoppers across Washington, as long as supplies last.

“Litter is a big problem with simple solutions. Small actions like keeping a litter bag in your car to collect garbage can make a huge difference,” said Amber Smith, the litter prevention coordinator at Ecology. “It’s critical for us to stop litter at its source. When you take care of your trash the right way, you help create a litter free Washington and set a good example for others. We need everyone to do their part.”

Residents can learn more about the new anti-litter campaign on Ecology's website and look for opportunities to volunteer via Adopt-a-Highway.