LITTER ENFORCEMENT MONTH
April 2012

Hosted by: the Alice Ferguson Foundation, Regional Law Enforcement Departments, and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

Mission: To raise awareness of litter, illegal dumping and related crimes; the laws associated with them, and their social and environmental effects on our communities, our economy, and the Potomac River.

For more information contact Clara Elias, Program Associate, celias@fergusonfoundation.org, 202-973-8203

2012 Participating Jurisdictions

Why focus on Litter Enforcement?

• Littering and illegal dumping are related crimes which affect our neighborhoods and the Potomac River.
• Studies show that there is a strong correlation between high volumes of litter and increased crime.
• Street litter becomes marine debris quickly! Storm drains in the region usually leads directly to tributaries of the Potomac River- the source of up to 80% of area residents’ drinking water!
• In a 2008 public opinion study, people admitted that enforcement would deter them from littering, however, very few people think there is a chance of getting caught.

How Jurisdictions participate in Litter Enforcement Month

On March 22nd, 2011, The Litter Enforcement Working Group met at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and goals for Litter Enforcement Month were confirmed. Participating Jurisdictions agree to four actions, an alternate for Sheriff’s offices not involved with code enforcement was added in 2012:

1. Officer Education- During LEM, officers will be trained on the importance of litter and illegal dumping enforcement. Local police departments will host trainings for officers and invite other jurisdictions’ officers to attend.*
2. Public Education- In addition to a concerted effort to enforce waste disposal laws, the communities served will be educated about the effects of litter and the repercussions if one is caught through various media outlets and public announcements.
3. Enforce Litter & Illegal Dumping Laws + Tracking citations- Throughout LEM, participating jurisdictions will keep track of civil and/or criminal citations about Littering and Illegal Dumping as well as these optional litter-related issues:
   • Blight
   • Hoarding
   • Most-littered areas
   • Uncovered hauls
   • Graffiti
   • Abandoned Property
   • Illegal Tire hauling or piling
   • Loitering
   • Snipe Signs
4. Reporting Out – Report date by using a simple form & Sharing Newsworthy stories regarding Litter Enforcement Month
5. Alternate activity for Sheriff's Offices not involved with code enforcement but manage Community Labor Forces or Alternative Incarceration Branches (likely in jurisdictions where there is both a Police Department and a Sheriff's Office)- Engage your Community Labor Forces to participate in the Potomac Watershed Cleanup by reporting the waste collected along highways & other areas).

Enforcement Officers can make a difference by Enforcing Litter and Illegal Dumping Laws!

Litter Enforcement Working Group

Our working group works to increase enforcement of litter and litter related laws by creating a solid action plan that will move us forward and by implementing Litter Enforcement Month.

For more information about Litter Enforcement & the other local efforts against litter, please call or email the Trash Free Potomac Watershed Initiative at 202-973-8203, trashfree@fergusonfoundation.org

Litter Enforcement is one of the five core components of the Trash Free Potomac Watershed Initiative.

History of Litter Enforcement

In 2008, the Alice Ferguson Foundation, the National Park Service, and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) celebrated the first Litter Enforcement Week. In 2010, the 3rd Annual Litter Enforcement week occurred between April 4th and 10th. Per suggestion of the Enforcement Roundtable at the 5th Annual Trash Summit in Sept 2010, the week-long event was extended to a month in order to allow for better education of the public and officers alike. In 2012, the Second Annual Litter Enforcement Month will take place in April to coincide with the 24th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup.

Historical Documents relating to Litter Enforcement Promotion

• April 21, 2008: Agenda
• December 11, 2007: Agenda
• September 12, 2007: Agenda, Synopsis

• 2010 Roundtable Minutes

• 2009 Roundtable Minutes

• Prince George’s Environmental Crimes Unit View Presentation
• 2008 Roundtable Minutes

• 2007 Roundtable Minutes

• 2006 Roundtable Summary