Litter is ugly and embarrassing. As the population continues to grow, and Phoenix continues to add more highways, trash and litter on those roads continues to be an issue. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation ("ADOT"), every year ADOT spends millions of dollars removing litter from Arizona's thousands of miles of highway. That adds up to a lot of trash. Over 6,000 bags of litter are removed monthly from the Phoenix metro area alone.
What do people throw out of their vehicles while they are driving? Cups, bags, drink lids, Styrofoam, metal, paper, construction debris, and, of course, cigarette butts. Did you know that cigarette butts are not biodegradable? Young adult males are the most likely to litter, but the problem spans both sexes and all age groups. Adopt a Highway "Volunteers" donate their time to pick up litter off the side of the road in the rural parts of Arizona. Adopt a Highway "Sponsors" pay a contractor to remove litter in the urban areas like Phoenix where more frequent removal is necessary. As available, prison personnel also participate in removing litter along the highways.
Reporting an Arizona Litter Violation
Arizona Clean and Beautiful’s litter hotline provides motorists with an opportunity to be part of the solution. People who see someone littering can call their observations into the hotline. Here are the numbers:
1-877-3-litter or 602-712-4683
Online report form
You'll be asked to provide the following:
- Date when the littering occurred
- Location at which littering occurred
- Description of the vehicle, including the license number
- Description of the item littered
You Can Help Reduce Litter in Arizona
- Discard your personal trash in a trash receptacle.
- If you see someone littering from a vehicle call the Litter Hotline.
