New Research Reveals Texans Mistakenly Believe Convicts Keep Our Roadways Clean
- 04.03.04
Volunteers prepare to collect tons of trash on 19th Annual Don't Mess with Texas Trash-Off
(AUSTIN)—New research by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reveals 40 percent of Texans believe prisoners are most responsible for cleaning litter off state highways, when the truth is paid contractors and volunteers are doing the dirty work.
As many as 100,000 volunteers could help change this misperception April 3 when they participate in the 19th Annual Don't Mess with Texas Trash-Off, one of the nation's largest single-day cleanup events.
"Every year about 1 billion pieces of litter accumulate on Texas highways, and taxpayers are footing the bill to clean it up," said TxDOT Travel Division Director Doris Howdeshell. "The state spent about $32 million in cleanup costs last year, and contrary to what many people believe, we're not using convicts to get it done. Ninety percent of our roadways are cleaned by paid contractors, and we rely on dedicated volunteers to do the rest."
The Don't Mess with Texas Trash-Off is co-sponsored by TxDOT and Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB). Volunteers include the members of more than 1,400 Adopt-a-Highway groups and more than 100 KTB communities. Adopt-a-Highway groups are in charge of highway cleanup, while KTB volunteers focus on neighborhoods, city streets and parks.
Last year, 70,000 Adopt-a-Highway and KTB volunteers picked up 1 million pounds of trash across Texas, making it one of the most successful years in Trash-Off history.
"This is one of the largest cleanups in the country, and it all begins at the local level," said KTB President Kyle Frazier. "Our grassroots organizations and volunteers make this event a success. It's their passion and dedication that help the Don't Mess with Texas Trash-Off grow every year. We believe this year will be the biggest and best yet."
A new Litter Attitudes and Behaviors Study released by TxDOT shows there's much work to be done. While Texans' habit of tossing larger items like cans or bottles dropped 18 percent in the past three years, one of every five residents still admits to littering small things like cigarette butts or candy wrappers. Only 6 percent correctly answered paid contractors and volunteers are responsible for cleaning up the roadside trash.
TxDOT's Don't Mess with Texas public education campaign began in 1986 and has helped decrease the state's roadside litter by 52 percent since 1995.
For more information about the Don't Mess with Texas Trash-Off and Adopt-a-Highway, visit www.texasaah.org.
For a complete list of community events or volunteer information, contact KTB at 1-800-CLEAN-TX or visit www.ktb.org.
TxDOT: District Spokesperson, Phone Number
Abilene: Mary Beth Kilgore, (325) 676-6806
Amarillo: Tonya Detten, (806) 356-3256
Atlanta: Marcus Sandifer, (903) 799-1306
Austin: John Hurt, (512) 832-7060
Beaumont: Marc Shepherd, (409) 898-5745
Brownwood: Sandra Parker, (325) 643-0413
Bryan: Bob Colwell, (979) 778-9764
Childress: Barbara Seal, (940) 937-7145
Corpus Christi: Frances Garza, (361) 808-2231
Dallas: Mark Ball, (214) 320-4481
El Paso: Blanca M. Del Valle, (915) 790-4341
Fort Worth: Jodi Hodges, (817) 370-6737
Houston: Janelle Gbur, (713) 802-5071
Laredo: Raul Leal, (956) 712-7411
Lubbock: Penny Mason, (806) 748-4337
Lufkin: Katherine White, (936) 633-4395
Odessa: Glen Larum, (432) 498-4746
Paris: Sabra P. Vaughan, (903) 737-9205
Pharr: Yvonne Hernandez, (956) 702-6132
San Angelo: Patsy Rainwater-Maddux, (325) 947-9205
San Antonio: Ximena Copa-Wiggins, (210) 615-5922
Tyler: Delaina Meyer-Pipes, (903) 510-9267
Waco: Ken Roberts, (254) 867-2705
Wichita Falls: Adele Lewis, (940) 720-7728
Yoakum: Peggy Krejci, (361) 293-4372
