East County Citizens' Alliance Fights Highway Litter

0:00Volunteers with the East County Citizens Alliance have been hitting Highway 14 hard since 2022, pulling 24,000. Pounds of trash, from stretches through Kamas and Wushugul, under the state's Adopt a Highway program. They're tackling everything from plastic scraps and fast food wrappers to styrofoam and bottles, turning a simple cleanup into a front line battle. Against roadside filth, now they're leveling up, pushing local and state leaders for tougher litter laws, better low security on trucks and campaigns to cut waste before it, hits the road. Officials admit it's a problem, but lean on community groups, while spots like interstate ramps stay nasty due to safety risks and no easy fixes. Locals are fired up, calling the mess an eye sore that scares off tourists and harms wildlife, with volunteers saying it's only piling higher despite. Their sweat, the state transportation department prioritizes guard rails over garbage, and the 2023 closure of a nearby prison-slashed inmate crews.

1:01That used to help, they're getting scientific, teaming with Portland State University data students for a two-year trash analysis, starting this month to pinpoint sources, and patterns. Statewide, highways drown in millions of pounds yearly, with 12 million bucks spent in 2022 barely scratching the surface. Bottom line, these crews know, pick up ain't enough. Corporate accountability to stop the cycle for good. You've been listening to Vancouver News today, AI-powered local news.