PennDOT, state police tout ‘litter-free’ event in Washington County
Photo courtesy of PennDOT
State police and the Department of Transportation held a “litter-free” event Tuesday at the Beau Street Park and Ride in South Strabane to address the ongoing issue of litter on Pennsylvania roadways.
District 12 Executive Rachel Duda emphasized the costly impact of litter cleanup, saying 4,000 hours and over $216,000 is spent removing litter, while state police Trooper Rocco Gagliardi reminded the public that littering is illegal, with fines of up to $1,000 in Litter Enforcement Corridors.
Washington County foreman Kyle Blystone highlighted the safety hazards crews face while cleaning roadways, with the group saying that PennDOT spends upwards of $18 million per year on litter control, prevention and remediation programs on the more than 40,000 miles of state-maintained highways.
In PennDOT District 12, which includes Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties, the department spent over $772,000 last year on litter cleanup efforts.