SEATTLE — More trash is being removed from Downtown Seattle thanks to a program that's been around for 25 years and recently expanded.
In January alone, the Downtown Ambassadors who serve the Metropolitan Improvement District picked up more than 100,000 gallons of trash. That is 9,000 more gallons than January 2023.
There are more than 150 ambassadors, with more than 90 of them assigned to the Clean Team where they pick up trash and remove graffiti, among other things.
“We are the go-to for directions,” said Jason Harrison, who is an ambassador with the clean team. “But we get a lot of thank you's from people downtown that really see the hard work we're doing, and that's what really feels good about this job.”
The ambassadors are employees with the Downtown Seattle Association and serve the neighborhoods included in the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID) which includes the areas in-between the waterfront and I-5 and in-between the stadiums and Denny Way.
“If you didn't have people picking up stuff every day, it's going to accumulate and it would be out of hand,” said Harrison of the trash they pick up.
Harrison said the most common things he picks up are bottles and cans and a hot spot is along Third Avenue.
“We have major hot spots we get into in the morning before most people get to work in the morning, so they don't have to look at that on the way to their office,” Harrison said.
Last year the MID was renewed by the City of Seattle for another 10 years and expanded to include the stadium district. Over the past years, more ambassadors have been hired, allowing for more trash to be picked up.
“We have about 30 more clean team ambassadors than we did last year at this time,” said Jennifer Casillas, who oversees the ambassador program for the Downtown Seattle Association.
She said there are many reasons for litter.
“Probably a little bit of everything,” Casillas said. “We also have more and more people unsheltered outside that we are trying to help as well, and sometimes that results in a little bit more litter.”
Harrison said he is happy to help and takes pride in his work and his city. He hopes other people will too.
“A lot of people come downtown," Harrison said. "This is the home for everybody. So just keep the place clean. Treat it like it's your home, that's the main thing."
The Downtown Seattle Association is budgeted to have 165 ambassadors, but right now they have 154 and are currently hiring.