Freeway cleanup crews are already on the job this year, according to a regional litter manager and cleanup crew coordinator for the state Department of Ecology.
“We have a youth litter crew and an adult litter crew,” said Ariona (that’s her whole name, she said). Both crews are paid; youth ages 14 to 17 apply for summer jobs through their schools while adults 18 and older apply through Ecology and are put to work in spring and autumn only.
Ariona said a recent “What’s Up with That?” item in the Neighbors section accurately reported that money for the youth cleanup crew was cut in 2010 — but failed to mention that the money was restored this year. “The budget cut hit us last year, but this year we’ll be back on the road,” she said.
All paid youth positions have already been filled for this year, she said. Meanwhile, anybody interested in signing up with the state’s all-volunteer Adopt-A-Highway program are still welcome to do so. Visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/operations/adoptahwy or call Bill VanAntwerp at 360-905-2131.
