Contact:
Matt Phelps Fay Lim
Communications Specialist II Communications Supervisor
Matt.Phelps@snoco.org Fay.Lim@snoco.org
425-388-3126 425-388-6413
Snohomish County’s Litter Wranglers Return to Rustle Up the Rubbish
Program enters second season after exceeding expectations in 2017
EVERETT, Wash., May 9 – Many residents took notice of the Snohomish County Litter Wranglers corralling the curbside trash from county roads last summer. The results were even more noticeable as the litter patrol crew helped to preserve the county’s natural beauty. The Litter Wranglers are saddling up for the 2018 season after a pilot year of herding 4,676 bags of litter off the roadsides.
“This program is an example of the county being innovative and responding to residents’ concerns,” Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers said. “We took a small idea and turned it into something with a big impact – not only on residents’ quality of life but also on the environment.”
Resident calls and emails reporting litter sites contributed to the Litter Wranglers’ success and ability to clean 445 road miles last year. The crew uses the reports to plan their week and group site visits so they can be more efficient and effective.
“The Litter Wranglers have been successful because of public participation and we want to grow that partnership,” Snohomish County Public Works Director Steve Thomsen said. “Last summer, the crew was able to respond to a report within a week and get the site cleaned. It has been extremely effective.”
Snohomish County residents can participate in the program by continuing to report areas with excessive litter. Report a litter location by:
· Calling: 425-388-7500
“The crew exceeded my expectations last year and really helped other county staff to be more productive,” Snohomish County Solid Waste Director Matt Zybas said. “When they get out there and clean up a site before maintenance crews arrive, everything goes smoother.”
The county-employed six-member crew is trained on how to safely deal with litter while working along the side of the road amid traffic. Residents may see the Litter Wranglers between 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday throughout the county.
Residents can also participate in picking up litter by joining the county’s Adopt-A-Road program, which is a partnership between volunteers and Snohomish County Public Works to keep roadsides free of litter. To sign-up, for the program call the program coordinator at 425-388-3137.
Relevant URLs:
About Snohomish County Public Works
The Snohomish County Public Works Department constructs and maintains county roads; controls and manages surface water quantity, quality, and fish habitats; and oversees the recycling and disposal of solid waste. The department’s main office is located at 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett, WA 98201. For more information about Snohomish County Public Works, visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/PublicWorks.