Simple As that
When we care about our roads, it shows. Putting litter in its place is as simple as using a litter bag in your car. We can all do our part.
Roads connect us
Each year, nearly 38 million pounds of litter accumulates along our roads and public areas. Ecology and our partners spend millions of dollars on litter pickup programs, but we can only address a fraction of the problem.
Litter is expensive and ugly. Many types of litter, like cigarette butts, leach chemicals into the environment that harm wildlife and pollute waterways.
Litter may be a big problem, but the solution is simple — and you can help.
Your small daily actions make a big difference
We can all do our part to end littering, and it’s simple. Use a litter bag in your car and throw your trash in a bin. If you smoke, use a portable ashtray. Your small daily actions make a big difference.
Want to go a step further? Promote litter prevention where you live. Use our toolkit to amplify campaign messages.
Keep it simple with a litter bag
A litter bag is a handy place to collect trash until you can toss it into a garbage can or recycling bin. It keeps your ride tidier, keeps the state litter-free, and sets a good example for others.
Get or buy a bag
Ecology has distributed thousands of litter bags as a part of this campaign. If we don't have an active partnership in your area, buy a bag online or at a local retailer.
Make a bag
Repurpose an existing bag or container – like a shopping bag, small waste basket, or plastic tub.
![A person places a cigarette into a portable ashtray inside a vehicle.]](/getmedia/a047b296-5558-4137-a728-425e2fc3f7d7/person-putting-out-cigarette-on-ashtray.png)
Carry a portable ashtray
If you smoke, carry a portable ashtray in your car. That way, you can properly dispose of the cigarette butts rather than tossing them out the window.
Litter laws
Littering, whether it’s intentional or not, is against Washington state law, with fines up to $5,000 and even jail time in some cases. “Lit debris” – primarily cigarettes – carry the largest fines. Local jurisdictions may have stricter ordinances.
