ODOT spends almost two and a half million dollars a year on litter pickup statewide. Warburton oversees youth litter patrols in Union and Wallowa Counties. He estimates that litter crews collect 50 to 100 tons of garbage from eastern Oregon s highways each year. Last year the Oregon Legislature passed Bill 3530 relating to hazardous substances. But even with the new law in effect, enforcement is difficult.
Most offenders throw or discard trash at times or places when the chance of being seen is minimal.
Unless motorists are caught in the act they have succeeded in polluting our environment. The problem is going to continue to a point where ODOT may not be able to adequately handle it. And that would be unfortunate for the citizens of Oregon and for people that visit. Representatives from ODOT and the Oregon State Police agree that increasing the number of citations and adding stiffer fines is the most effective way to combat the litter problem. Frank Grammer with OSP in La Grande says that in Oregon there are several statutes involving litter.