Waste & Toxics > Solid waste & litter > Litter > Litter prevention > We Keep Washington Litter Free

We Keep WA Litter Free campaign

A vehicle litter bag slung around a passenger seat. Either fancy or plain, litter bags promote proper disposal of commonly littered items. — Keep a litter bag in your vehicle to prevent roadside litter. Learn more.

Litter is a big problem with a simple solution — everyone in Washington doing their part.

Most people don’t litter. But the actions of the few who do add up to expensive cleanups, dangerous road conditions, and a big environmental impact. Every year, Washington’s state and local governments spend millions of dollars to clean up litter, but those efforts only remove a fraction of the millions of pounds of waste that accumulate every year on roads, in communities, and throughout natural habitats.

Live litter free and help others do the same

Stop litter at the source

image of litter bag from video spot — Keep a litter bag in your vehicle.

image of secured load from partner photos — Cover and secure items you’re hauling in a pickup or trailer.

image of portable ashtray from video — If you smoke, keep a portable ashtray in your vehicle.

image of bag being thrown away at gas station from video — When you're driving, throw away trash at your destination or at a gas station or rest area.

image of young men from video — Encourage your friends and family to live litter free too.

The impact of litter

Every year, more than 26 million pounds of litter is tossed or blown onto Washington’s roadways and interchanges. Public areas, like rest areas, parks, and recreation areas, see an additional 11.6 million pounds of litter per year.

Our 2022 litter study shows there is an average of 73,580 pieces of litter (1,579 pounds) per mile per year on Washington’s interstate highways. Local roads are the least littered and still have 18,051 pieces of litter (143 pounds) per mile per year.

Litter isn't just ugly, it's dangerous. Roadside litter causes hundreds of car crashes every year and many types of litter, like cigarette butts, leach harmful chemicals into natural habitats.

In 2023, litter-pickup programs we funded collected more than 5.6 million pounds of litter from more than 20,800 miles of roads, costing almost $8 million. We need everyone’s help to turn the tide on litter.

Litter Laws

Littering or driving with an unsecured vehicle load in Washington could result in fines up to $5,000. Learn more about the state's litter laws.

Translated content

La basura es un gran problema, pero tiene una solución simple: todos en Washington poniendo de su parte para ayudar.

La mayoría de la gente no tira basura en las carreteras, pero las acciones de los pocos que sí lo hacen ocasionan limpiezas costosas, condiciones peligrosas en las carreteras y un gran impacto ambiental. Cada año, los gobiernos estatales y locales de Washington gastan millones de dólares para limpiar la basura, pero esos esfuerzos solo eliminan una fracción de los 26 millones de libras de desechos que se acumulan cada año en nuestras carreteras, en nuestras comunidades y en todos nuestros espacios naturales.

Por Un Washington Impecable

We offer free language services about our programs and services for people whose primary language is not English. We can provide written information in your preferred language and interpreters in person or over the telephone.

Contact our Language Access team: civilrights@ecy.wa.gov

Contact information

Amber Smith
Statewide litter prevention coordinator
amber.smith@ecy.wa.gov
360-688-4957