Seattle ramps up efforts to clean litter, needles out of parks and streets
Dec 11, 2020, 4:56 PM
City personnel clean up the area known as the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) on June 26, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)
A new initiative will see the City of Seattle invest over $3 million to ramp up efforts to clean up litter and remove graffiti, as well as deal with backlogged maintenance efforts.
Seattle Mayor proposes trash cleanup plan for city streets, parks
The city has faced issues with litter, illegal dumping, and trash remediation during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. That’s led to a 195% increase in the volume of litter collected between the second and third quarter of 2020.
“The pandemic has left the City with significant challenges in our ability to address litter, illegal dumping, and trash throughout our parks, neighborhoods and business districts,” Mayor Durkan said in a news release. “As we look toward recovery, it is critical that our public spaces are clean, safe, and accessible to all.”
As part of a new “Clean City” initiative, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) will be adding 10 new litter routes “to more than double efforts to collect litter and illegally dumped trash.” SPU, the Seattle Department of Transportation, and Parks and Recreation will also “focus weekly on extensively cleaning specific parks, neighborhoods, and surrounding streets.”
SPU plans to add 10 new needle disposal boxes spread out across the city as well, with litter collection also paying especial focus to clearing littered needles out of streets and parks. Another $350,000 in funding will go toward “litter and graffiti abatement” in business districts.
Intended lawsuit over Puyallup River artificial turf pollution grows
“Every person living in Seattle deserves clean public spaces,” Councilmember Andrew Lewis said. “This surge in cleanup efforts will make our parks more accessible to park visitors and neighbors alike. Considering the challenges our city is facing, expanding our trash pick-up services in parks and along streets just make sense.”
As part of this surge, the city collected 274 needles and 51,575 pounds of trash last week alone, servicing 78 encampments and RVs with trash pickup, as well as two parks and 18 litter routes.
You can learn more about the Clean City Initiative here.
Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest
