Keeping Washington Clean: Fighting Roadside Litter Together—On Earth Day and Everyday

By Celeste Dimichina

As winter ends and spring begins, the warmer weather brings more people outside. It’s also when we start to notice more of what’s around us—flowers blooming, tree leaves turning green, and sadly, litter along our roads and highways.

We appreciate everyone who reaches out to share concerns. We agree—litter is a problem. No one wants to see trash in medians, along shoulders, or near sidewalks. It’s not just unsightly, it affects communities, harms the environment, and shapes how people see our state.

Earth Day is a great time to remember we all have a role in keeping Washington clean. The best way to prevent litter is simple—always secure your load, every time, even on short trips, don’t illegally dump and never toss trash out the window. Cleanup costs a lot of money, and we don’t have the funding to remove litter on a regular basis. That’s why prevention matters.

Litter cleanup takes crews away from other critical maintenance tasks

Each year, we work with the Department of Ecology and spend about $12 million to clean up litter. Even with that investment, crews can only collect a small amount of the trash that ends up along roads.

Litter cleanup also takes crews away from other important work like fixing potholes, repairing guardrails, responding to winter storms, and maintaining rest areas. Preventing litter helps keep crews focused on work that keeps everyone safe.

Litter by the numbers

In 2024, crews removed more than 1,000 tons of litter and debris from Washington highways. One ton equals 2,000 pounds—about the weight of a grand piano or a small car. That’s the same as hauling away 1,000 small cars.

That’s a lot of trash that wouldn’t be there if it had been properly disposed of in the first place.

• 313 tons of litter were collected by WSDOT maintenance crews.
• 380 tons of litter were removed by Adopt-a-Highway volunteers, Ecology Litter Corps, and Department of Corrections crews.
• 310 tons of litter were cleaned from or near encampments, removed by specialized contractors.

In 2022, the Department of Ecology did a study on litter. They found that Washington picks up about 38 million pounds of litter every year. That’s 42% more than the national average. Together, we’ve spent $12 million on cleanup—but there’s more work to do.

Litter isn’t a safety problem unless it blocks a travel lane. Crews have to prioritize work that keep roads open and safe. That means they first clean up big items like furniture, or larger bags of garbage that fall from unsecured loads or are illegally dumped. If you see something that poses a danger to fellow travelers, please call 9-1-1.

WSDOT crews picked up several bags of garbage and debris during roadside maintenance work on SR 500.

What causes litter?

Most trash comes from everyday people— not just those who are experiencing homelessness. It often comes from travelers who don’t tie down their loads, throw cigarette butts or food wrappers out the window or dump household garbage where it doesn’t belong.

Many of us were taught as kids that littering made you a “litterbug”—no one wants to be called that.

Main causes of roadside litter include:

• Unsecured loads – Up to 40% of roadside litter comes from items that fall out of vehicles.
• Improper disposal – Tossing food wrappers, bottles or cigarette butts out of cars or leaving them behind at rest stops and parks.
• Illegal dumping – Leaving household garbage at park-and-rides, rest areas or along the roadside.

Our volunteers and partners make a difference

We can’t do this work alone. Our incredible volunteers and partners play a big role in keeping our roads clean. We partner with:

• The Adopt-a-Highway program
• Ecology Litter Corps (formerly Ecology Youth Corps)
• The Department of Ecology
• The Department of Corrections

In Clark County, we lost a key partner when Larch Corrections Center closed in October 2023. That also ended support from incarcerated crews who helped remove litter in the region.

As of January 2025:

• 607 volunteer groups are part of the Adopt-A-Highway program.
• These groups have adopted nearly 1,100 miles of state roads.
• Another 264 corporate sponsors help cover 258 miles of road.

We give volunteers:

• training
• safety gear
• traffic control equipment
• litter bags
• help with trash disposal

Some highways can’t be adopted because of safety concerns like narrow shoulders. State and federal rules guide how the program works and how we place recognition signs for participating groups.

We’re always looking for more volunteers to join the program and help make a difference. Many of our volunteer groups have been active for decades and take great pride in their contributions.

Volunteers pose with just a fraction of the litter they cleared from Washington Roadways in the Olympic Peninsula earlier this year. 

Why it matters

Washington is known for its lush green forests, scenic trails, clear lakes and rivers, and breathtaking mountain views. Litter takes away from that beauty.

It’s not just ugly, litter can hurt tourism, harm wildlife, and pollute stormwater that flows into our rivers and lakes. It also attracts pests and spreads bacteria and germs.

The good news? By making small changes—like properly throwing away trash and securing loads—we can all help protect the natural beauty that makes Washington so special.

With Earth Day coming up, now’s the perfect time to take action!

What can you do this Earth Day

Earth day is a global event held every year on April 22. It’s a reminder that we all share the important job of protecting the environment and that small actions make a big difference.

Here are a few simple things you can do:

• Secure your load – every trip, every time – It’s the law and it helps prevent hundreds of crashes and stops trash from falling onto the road.
• Dispose of trash properly – Keep a small bag in your car for garbage and use it until you can find a trash can and make sure nothing flies out car windows.
• Don’t dump – Rest areas and park-and-rides are not places to leave household garbage. If you’re not sure how/where to dispose of large items, call your local garbage and recycling service company and ask.
• Speak up – A 2022 survey found 26% of litterers, or one in four people would stop littering if someone asked them to.

We kindly ask YOU, the reader, please do not litter!

• Join Adopt-a-Highway – Most volunteer groups adopt two-mile sections of the roadway and clean up four times a year.

While crews removed litter along the highway, they found a tiny reminder of why preventing litter is important—a ladybug, right at home in the grass. 

Let’s make everyday Earth Day

We don’t have dedicated litter crews or funding for litter cleanup. Our highway maintenance crews pick up litter while doing routine maintenance work along state roads and highways. This means we rely on volunteers, other state agencies and private contractors to help us with the rest.

Several bags of trash and debris crews were able to clear from along SR 500, in Vancouver, on Earth Day.

“Many hands make light work.”

This Earth Day - and every day - we invite you to make a difference

Take the first step: join the Adopt-a-Highway program, secure your load, and encourage others to do the same. And please—keep your lunch, your old mattresses and favorite coffee container with you – don’t leave it along the side of the highway.

Together, we can stop litter before it starts and keep Washington clean, green, and beautiful.

Ready to get involved?

Visit WSDOT’s Adopt-a-Highway page to learn more and sign up today.