SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — Washington is known for its natural beauty, but it's actually "trashier" than the average state in America.
The Washington State Department of Ecology said it picked up 38 million pounds of garbage along roads and parks in 2022. That's 42% higher than the rest of the nation.
Clean up crews in Snohomish County will sweep 500 miles of roadsides, picking up tens of thousand of pounds of illegally dumped garbage this summer alone.
They're called the Snohomish County Litter Wranglers, but instead of cattle, they're wrangling rugs, recliners, and just about anything else you can think of.
"Everything from needles to RVs. It comes in every form," said Snohomish County Solid Waster Director Dave Schonhard.
"Oh, yeah. Refrigerators, microwaves, windows," added wrangler Oliver McCartney.
They're scouring the streets of Snohomish County picking up tons of trash mindlessly dumped by people. In just 7 months, the crew will collect about 4,000 bags of garbage, not to mention all of the other junk left behind.
"You're contaminating the water, creeks the rivers," said McCartney. "There's some gross stuff we've found out here."
According to the Department of Ecology, the national average is 5,714 pieces of litter per mile. In Washington, that number is 8,112 — 42% higher. That's five pounds per person.
It should be noted that trash from homeless camps was not counted.
Statewide taxpayers dump $6 million for clean up costs each year. In Snohomish County, the clean up costs run $180,000 per year and crews are having a tough time keeping up.
Staffing shortages have cut the number of clean-up hours from 40 per week to 20, but Wranglers still expect to pick up just as much trash as before.
"We would hope that when people see a clean stretch of road we would try to keep it clean but it seems to be pretty consistent the amount of waste we see on roadways," said Schonhard.
The problem has gotten so bad, everyday citizens from across our area have formed small groups, taking it upon themselves to pick up other people's messes.
The question clean-up crews in Snohomish County keep asking is: why are people trashing this beautiful state?
"Some people just don't seem to care and will throw it out the window," said Schonhard. "It's a menace to society."
This year, legislators in Olympia passed a law making it easier to prosecute illegal dumpers and stiffening fines to up to $1000. The law takes effect June 6.
For more information about how to prevent and deter illegal dumping, visit snohomishcountywa.gov.