Let’s Stop Littering

Since my husband’s retirement four years ago, we have driven approximately 200,000 miles in 34 states.

Washington is one of the most littered.

As you enter Spokane, Seattle or Tacoma, you will find plastic, cardboard, cans and bottles in such large quantities that you would think we have lost our pride. As you travel the state’s interstate highways, you would get that same impression - unless that portion of roadway has been adopted for cleanup by an active organization.

Individuals or groups who want to know more about the Adopt-aHighway litter cleanup program can call the state Department of Transportation in Spokane at 324-6540.

I hope these other suggestions are worth consideration, too:

A service organization could organize an Operation Retrieve weekend in cooperation with the Washington State Patrol. Traffic could be slowed for a few hours so litter cleanup crews could work safely.

The Spokane County Roads Department could come up with a cleanup program like the state’s - or at least one in which it would provide bright orange bags for litter and then would be willing to pick up the full bags in a timely manner.

People who collect aluminum cans along roadsides could clean up litter at the same time.

Merchants who don’t already do so could assign an employee to clean sidewalks and parking lots at the business each day.

Residents in neighborhoods where one household needs a little financial help could pay the household’s garbage bill for a month.

Legislators could put real teeth into our litter laws - say a $1,000 fine for littering - and then the laws should be enforced.

We could learn a lot from those who do it right. I have noticed that the Hamilton and Cowen families in the St. John, Wash., area always keep their adopted territory in A-1 shape.

My husband and I have found few states in our travels where you can go from the desert and wheat fields over snowcapped mountains to the seashore and see so much diversity and beauty. But we need to join hands - neighbors, merchants, organizations - and let all visitors to Washington know we are mighty proud of the Evergreen State.

MEMO: “Your Turn” is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a column for consideration, call Rebecca Nappi/459-5496 or Doug Floyd/459-5466.