Paying for litter pickup

Since 1971, Washington’s statewide litter collection, waste reduction, and recycling programs have been funded by a tax on wrappers, bottles, and other items typically found in roadside litter.

• Chapter 70A.200 RCW, The Waste Reduction, Recycling and Model Litter Control Act

The 0.015-percent tax on retail sales of these items generates about $11.4 million a year for the Waste Reduction Recycling and Litter Control Account.

• 40 percent of these funds go toward litter pickup and prevention
• 40 percent are used for waste reduction and recycling programs
• 20 percent go toward funding local government programs

In 2020, Ecology-funded programs picked up more than 4.5 million pounds of litter and cleaned 21,276 miles of road statewide. These programs include:

• Ecology Youth Corps
• Community Litter Cleanup Program grants
• Department of Natural Resources’ Correctional Camps program
• Department of Fish and Wildlife Lands and Waters

The Washington State Department of Transportation oversees the volunteer Adopt-A-Highway program.

• Washington Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway program