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TRASH FREE WATERS PROGRAM
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
EPA-842-R-15-004
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AQUATIC TRASH PREVENTION
GREAT PRACTICES COMPENDIUM
THE
ID-ATLANTIC STATES
OCTOBER 2015
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Aquatic Trash Prevention Great Practices Compendium - the Mid-Atlantic States
Trash Free Waters Program
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1
D.C. BAG BILL 5
ANACOSTIA RIVER TRASH TRAP PROGRAM 7
SWEEP 9
ALLEY CLEANING INITIATIVE 11
MUNICIPAL TRASH CAN PILOT 13
BALTIMORE WATER WHEEL TRASH INTERCEPTOR 15
REGIONAL LITTER PREVENTION CAMPAIGN 17
TRASH FREE SCHOOLS PROJECT 19
LITTER AND ILLEGAL DUMPING ENFORCEMENT MONTH 21
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INTRODUCTION
Trash that is improperly disposed of - either intentionally or inadvertently - can enter fresh water and
coastal ecosystems. This "aquatic trash" may eventually make its way to the ocean. Aquatic trash has
become a pervasive problem in these environments, presenting a challenge to water quality and habitat
protection, in addition to causing aesthetic blight, ecological effects, economic impacts, and possible
human health risks. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Trash Free Waters (TFW) program
prompts collaborative actions to reduce and prevent land-based trash from entering our watersheds,
coastal waters, and marine environment.
The central tenet of TFW is to support states, municipalities, and businesses to work together to develop
innovative aquatic trash management strategies in targeted geographic areas. Recognizing that one size
doesn't fit all, regional strategies are tailored to a given geographic area and serve to enhance federal,
state, and local programs. Such an approach allows for this global problem to be more manageable at a
state and local level. Regional strategies consist of projects identified and developed by stakeholders to
reflect their needs and concerns.
Stakeholders of the Mid-Atlantic Region asked EPA to create a great practices compendium to identify
policies, programs, and initiatives that showed results with regard to reducing and/or preventing aquatic
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trash. Hence, The Aquatic Trash Prevention Great Practices Compendium for the Mid-Atlantic Region was
endorsed as one of the priority activities for the TFW strategy and projects in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
The great practices presented in this document are meant to provide general information pertaining to
efforts that demonstrate progress toward aquatic trash prevention and/or reduction when applied in a given
region, state, or locality. Whether efforts were directed at addressing litter and mismanaged trash or even
aquatic trash capture and removal, the great practices provided in this compendium offer a variety of
approaches to consider. Further, this compendium could serve as a single reference point for tried and true
practices that showed real results, enabling civic leaders and others to make informed decisions about their
future trash prevention program investments based on the experiences of others.
COMPENDIUM OVERVIEW
The best way to keep land-based trash and litter out of the ocean is to keep it from entering inland and
coastal water bodies in the first place. This can be achieved by a number of great practices that vary in
their activity and approach, activity-related costs, and duration of the activity after which a measure of
progress can be marked. Some great practices presented in this compendium showed a reduction in the
amount of trash entering waterways by affecting behavior change. Other great practices incorporated waste
management infrastructure solutions and innovative aquatic trash capture and removal devices to make an
impact. This compendium provides general information on varied great practices that achieved results in
reducing and preventing the amount of trash in and entering waterways.
What can be done to address mismanaged trash and litter? One approach is to manage it before it even hits
the ground. The Municipal Trash Can Pilot great practice demonstrated that providing a recycling bin and a
trash can with a tightly fitting lid to residents in a given neighborhood can help address litter, illegal dumping,
dirty streets, dirty alleys, and rat infestations. Another approach to address mismanaged trash and litter
includes affecting behavior change through public outreach and education. The Trash Free Schools Project
addresses the issues of mismanaged trash and littering by educating and empowering students, faculty, and
staff to reduce their school's waste footprint while implementing a strong litter prevention strategy. Another
approach to consider includes combining public education and awareness to affect a change in littering and
illegal dumping behaviors of residents within a watershed. This can bring a reduction in the number of
residents who litter and increase the number of residents opting to use trash cans. This result was seen from
the Regional Litter Prevention Campaign that educated and inspired such a positive change in littering
behavior. Philadelphia's city-run Sfreefs and Walkways Education and Enforcement Program produced
similar results of reducing litter while supporting and enhancing individual and community efforts to maintain a
clean city. An additional result, due in part to the program, was an increase in recycling rates. Another option
to affect behavior change related to littering and illegal dumping is to raise public awareness of the legal
consequences of those behaviors, while increasing enforcement efforts. With public education, officer
education, and litter/litter-related law enforcement, the Litter and Illegal Dumping Enforcement Month proved
effective in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia as the number of citations issued for activities
including littering, abandoned property, and illegal dumping showed a consistent decrease. The last example
of an approach to affect behavior change is the implementation of a Bag Bill. Within three years of the law
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taking affect in the District of Columbia, residents reduced their use of disposable bags, while businesses saw
a reduction in the number of plastic bags issued to customers.
While trash cleanups alone are not a long-lasting, sustainable solution to the aquatic trash problem, when
used in tandem with other prevention and reduction efforts, the collection of mismanaged trash on land, as
well as the capture and removal of aquatic trash, can be impactful. For example, the Alley Cleaning
Initiative used a combination of truck sweepers and laborers that resulted in a decline in the number of dirty
alley service requests. This effort helped prevent land-based trash from entering nearby waters. For trash
that has entered waters, a trash interceptor might be an option for aquatic trash removal. The Baltimore
Water Wheel Trash Interceptor removed tons of trash from the Baltimore Harbor with a cost well below that
for removing the same trash using alternative methods, such as skimmer boats. Another option to consider
is the use of an in-stream device to capture aquatic trash at hotspots within a sewershed. The Anacostia
River Trash Trap Program showed that such devices might be useful.
What's happening where you live? Are the waters trash free? Are there approaches in place to address
aquatic trash and to prevent it from entering nearby waters? Can any of these great practices prove useful
in your watershed?
COMPENDIUM DEVELOPMENT
TFW regional strategies consist of projects identified and developed by stakeholders to reflect their needs
and concerns. The development and implementation of the project-based regional strategies follow a
systematic, three-phased approach:
Phase I: Reconnaissance - engage in a dialogue with government, businesses, non-
governmental organizations (NGOs), and citizen stakeholders to understand the aquatic
trash and litter issues of a given area.
Phase II: Planning and Strategy - facilitate the process through which stakeholders generate
ideas for actions to remove and reduce barriers to aquatic trash prevention.
Phase III: Tactics and Action - support project collaboration and implementation, as well as
measuring results to determine if such efforts bring a reduction in aquatic trash.
In 2013, EPA initiated this approach for project identification in the Mid-Atlantic (which includes the states of
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, as well as key cities such as Philadelphia, Baltimore, the
District of Colombia, Richmond, and cities in the Hampton Roads area). EPA engaged with stakeholders
throughout the region via on-site meetings and conference calls, which in turn fostered a collaborative
ethos. During these dialogue sessions in the Mid-Atlantic, stakeholders repeatedly asked that EPA create a
great practices compendium to identify policies, programs, and initiatives that showed superior results with
regard to reducing/preventing aquatic trash. Hence, the great practices compendium was endorsed as one
of the priority activities for the TFW strategy and projects in the Mid-Atlantic region.
For purposes of this compendium, a great practice for maintaining trash-free waters is an activity,
technology, program, or initiative that prevents trash from entering the aquatic environment and/or reduces
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the volume of aquatic trash. The practice must demonstrate progress toward stated trash prevention and/or
reduction goals, and must show a clear return on investment.
This edition of the compendium presents great practices in the Mid-Atlantic region with the following
information template:
• Area of impact,
• Description of activity,
• Measure(s) of progress,
• Activity-related costs,
• Duration of activity,
• Partners and participants, and
• Point of contact for more information.
The information in this document was requested by EPA from principal organizations responsible for each
practice. EPA may have edited the text provided by regional project leaders for purposes of clarity,
consistency, and completeness. This document was prepared for informational purposes only. The
information provided herein should not be cited or quoted as the endorsed views or policies of EPA. The
projects are not listed in a particular order.
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D.C BAG BILL
54 Bag Fee
It's the law
and it's working
to reduce pollution.
District residents are using
over 50"» fewer disposable
ba»s than in 2009.
1 Vtria lniMiK-v.f> th.it x-ll
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ACTIVITY-RELATED COSTS
For more information, please reach out to the point of contact provided below.
DURATION OF ACTIVITY
The law was officially implemented on January 1, 2010.
PARTNERS AND PARTICIPANTS
The District government continues to welcome the active participation by many local community groups to
assist the public to develop a strong understanding of the Bag Bill. Local businesses provide opportunities
for consumers to utilize alternatives to disposable paper or plastic bags. In addition, local non-governmental
organizations and other District government agencies help aid in the enforcement of the law. For more
information on these activities, contact Matt Robinson of the DDOE.
POINT OF CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION
Matt Robinson, Environmental Protection Specialist, District Department of the Environment, Stormwater
Management Division, Program Implementation Branch, matthew.robinson@dc.gov, 202-442-3204
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ANACOSTIA RIVER TRASH TRAP PROGRAM
AREA OF IMPACT
District of Columbia
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY
The Anacostia River has been listed for trash on the District of Columbia's 303(d) list since 2006. In 2010,
the District, in partnership with the State of Maryland and U.S. EPA Region III, finalized a total maximum
daily load for trash in the Anacostia River.
Since 2009, the District has implemented a grant program known as the "Demonstration of Trash
Reduction Technologies" to fund local non-governmental organizations to design and install best
management practices to capture trash found in the Anacostia River and its tributaries. In 2009, this grant
program awarded grants to two local non-governmental organizations, the Anacostia Watershed Society
and Earth Conservation Corps, to install in-stream devices to capture trash. Since then, a total of six
devices have been installed through this grant program. Design types have ranged from custom to
proprietary designs. In terms of proprietary designs, two of the District's grantees, Anacostia Riverkeeper
and Earth Conservation Corps, have elected to install Bandalong litter traps, a design which originated in
Australia. The District is the first jurisdiction in the western hemisphere to install this design.
The District targets "hotspot" sewersheds for installation. These are highly "piped" areas of the city that are
part of the municipal separate storm sewer system. These sewersheds typically drain to three or fewer
outfalls, allowing the District to collect trash originating from a large area. The Demonstration of Trash
Reduction Technologies grant program has funded the installation of trash traps at two such hotspots.
MEASURE OF PROGRESS
Since the installation of the first trash traps in 2009, these traps have captured over 25,000 pounds of trash
from the Anacostia River and its tributaries. The success of each trash trap is highly dependent on where it
is installed. The District is also using these traps to capture important monitoring data on the types of trash
found in its waterways. For example, the Anacostia Watershed Society has worked with community
volunteers to remove 12,976 pounds of trash from the Nash Run trash trap between March 2009 and
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August 2014. Data from this trash trap shows a decline in the number of plastic bags entering the river
since the implementation of the Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Act of 2009 (commonly referred
to as the "Bag Bill") in the District. Volunteers also produced photographs of collected trash that depict
significant counts of Styrofoam consumer products, which aided in the enactment of a ban on polystyrene
in the District and Montgomery County, Maryland.
ACTIVITY-RELATED COSTS
Through the District's Demonstration of Trash Reduction Technologies grant program, six trash traps were
acquired and installed. This grant program is primarily funded through revenue collected by the District's
$0.05 fee on plastic bags.
Project costs vary based on the type of trash trap installed. For the Bandalong Litter Traps, costs
associated with designing, building, and installing the trap ranged from $50,000 - $100,000. These costs
are highly dependent on installation site conditions. Annual maintenance costs for the Bandalong Litter
Trap ranged from $28,000 - $44,000 per year. Such maintenance costs are dependent on the amount of
trash captured by each trash trap. For custom design trash traps, costs associated with designing, building,
and installing the trap ranged from $6,000 to $10,000. Only preliminary estimates were available regarding
annual maintenance costs for a custom design trash trap which ranged from $27,000 - $30,000 per year.
DURATION OF ACTIVITY
Trash trap installation began in 2009. The District anticipates maintaining all trash trap devices indefinitely,
pending available funding.
PARTNERS AND PARTICIPANTS
The District Department of the Environment has partnered with local non-governmental organizations to
design, install, and maintain these devices. Stormwater Systems, Inc., of Cleveland, GA, was sub-
contracted by Earth Conservation Corps and Anacostia Riverkeeper to design and install all Bandalong
Litter Traps. The non-governmental organizations that have participated in this program so far include the
Earth Conservation Corps, Anacostia Riverkeeper, Anacostia Watershed Society, and Groundwork
Anacostia River D.C. These volunteer efforts help keep public costs down and foster a greater sense of
community pride and environmental awareness about the importance of litter prevention, particularly
among young people in urban neighborhoods.
POINT OF CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION
Matt Robinson, Environmental Protection Specialist, District Department of the Environment, Stormwater
Management Division, Program Implementation Branch, matthew.robinson@dc.gov, 202-442-3204
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SWEEP
AREA OF IMPACT
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY
Streets and Walkways Education and Enforcement Program (SWEEP) is a City-run program created in
June 1991 to educate Philadelphia citizens about their responsibilities under the Sanitation Code. SWEEP
initially focused on commercial areas, but has expanded to other areas overtime. Through education and
enforcement, SWEEP supports and enhances individual and community efforts to maintain a clean city.
The program costs approximately $2.3 million annually, and employs 60 SWEEP officers. These officers
enforce the law against violators through intensified street patrols by uniformed litter enforcement officers,
computerized tracking of code violation notices, and speedy adjudication of violations. In cases of non-
compliance, SWEEP officers will issue warnings and citations to the appropriate individuals. SWEEP
officers also work with residential communities to address problem locations. Specially trained civilian
officers meet with the individuals responsible for the operation of businesses and apartment buildings to
review cleanup responsibilities.
MEASURE OF PROGRESS
The SWEEP program has helped to reduce litter and increase recycling in the City of Philadelphia.
In each of the past several years, SWEEP issued fewer citations for littering than the previous years.
SWEEP issued 145,300 citations in 2014, down slightly from a high of 155,500 in 2013. In 2015, SWEEP is
on track to issue even fewer citations, with a projection of 128,000. This decrease in citations is one
indication that SWEEP is working.
The City of Philadelphia's Litter Index supports the conclusion that the amount of littering in the city is
decreasing. In 2009, the Litter Index reported that 72 out of 109 (66%) index areas were "Significantly
Littered," "Excessively Littered," or "Extremely Littered." By 2014, only 8 out of 109 (7%) index areas were
"Significantly" or "Excessively Littered," with no "Extremely Littered" areas.
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Further, the City of Philadelphia substantially increased its volume of recycled materials since the inception
of SWEEP. Recycling has increased from an average of 45,000 tons per year in the 1990s to
approximately 127,000 tons in Fiscal Year 2014. This increase is in part due to SWEEP education and
outreach efforts.
Additionally, SWEEP maximizes every opportunity to educate residents, community groups, businesses,
churches and schools on the importance of the city's Streets Department rules and regulations. SWEEP
Officers formally educate the public in a variety of ways including community meetings and school
presentations; conducting media events and interviews; staffing special events; hosting seminars; issuing
formal print and e-letters; and posting press releases. Informal educational opportunities include
engaging citizens by canvassing door-to-door and disseminating information to patrol, phone, email, and
social media contacts.
Finally, SWEEP has a built-in targeted learning process. For instance, in 2006, a pilot study was conducted
in the lowest performing recycling areas of the city to determine what form of enforcement stimulated
residents to recycle: education, warnings, or a citation. The study revealed that people are more likely to
recycle after receiving a warning.
ACTIVITY-RELATED COSTS
The program costs approximately $2.3 million annually.
DURATION OF ACTIVITY
SWEEP was created in June 1991 and continues to be implemented.
PARTNERS AND PARTICIPANTS
Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee, Keep Philadelphia Beautiful, UNLITTER US, and RECYCLEBANK.
POINT OF CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION
Keith Warren, keith.warren@phila.gov
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ALLEY CLEANING INITIATIVE
AREA OF IMPACT
Baltimore, Maryland
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY
The Alley Cleaning initiative by the Bureau of Solid Waste (Bureau) is an effort to use technology (alley
cleaning sweepers) to keep alleys clean and reduce trash and litter. Alleys in Baltimore are the main
collection sites for trash and tend to be small, compact, and close together. As such, alleys are natural
magnets and conduits for trash and litter.
Currently, the Bureau responds to dirty alley requests with a truck, driver, and laborers to physically clean
dirty alleys reported. The aim of this initiative is two-fold:
1. Clean alleys quickly and effectively with one employee using one machine;
2. Clean alleys on a proactive basis before the problem builds and light trash and debris attracts
more, and oftentimes heavier trash, including bulk items such as furniture and mattresses.
When such trash items accumulate, additional resources must be committed to clean the site.
Since the start of the program on August 1, 2014, the Bureau has calculated the number of dirty alley
service requests per month in the selected pilot neighborhoods and is tracking the trends.
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MEASURE OF PROGRESS
As of early 2015, there has been a 10% decline in the number of dirty alley service requests overall in
the pilot neighborhoods since program inception in August 2014. Some neighborhoods have seen up to a
20% and 40% decline in the number of dirty alley service requests. The indirect benefits of the Alley
Cleaning Initiative include increased neighborhood pride in seeing clean alleys throughout the
community. Trash filled alleys give the appearance of neglect and inattention which creates an
environment ripe for illegal activities that can only flourish in such "civic blind spots." Those involved with
this initiative indicated that an additional benefit of alley cleaning is the fostering of strong investments
from within and outside the community.
ACTIVITY-RELATED COSTS
The initial capital outlay for the purchase of the three sweepers totaled $551,526. The annual operating
costs of the three sweepers, including personnel and maintenance, was approximately $180,000.
DURATION OF ACTIVITY
The Alley Cleaning Initiative started on August 1, 2014 and continues operation.
PARTNERS AND PARTICIPANTS
The Bureau of Solid Waste, along with the Baltimore Sustainability Commission, the Waterfront
Partnership, Blue Water Baltimore, and other environmental groups.
POINT OF CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION
Valentina I. Ukwuoma, valentina.ukwuoma@baltimorecity.gov, 410-396-5134
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MUNICIPAL TRASH CAN PILOT
AREA OF IMPACT
Baltimore, Maryland
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY
The Municipal Trash Can Pilot is an important effort to reduce litter and improve city cleanliness. The
distribution of 9,250 carts on wheels (trash cans with a 65 gallon holding capacity) and recycling bins (with
a 25 gallon holding capacity) to select neighborhoods in the Belair Edison and the Mondawmin areas is an
effort to gauge whether keeping trash in containers can drastically reduce litter and improve the cleanliness
of these neighborhoods.
Consequently, the Bureau of Solid Waste (Bureau) conducted a baseline assessment of the pilot areas for
sanitation service requests before the pilot started on July 2, 2014. Service requests for illegal dumping,
dirty streets, dirty alleys, and rat abatement were calculated for the target neighborhoods.
The Bureau will continue to track these numbers for 12 months and will compare them monthly from year to
year to look for improvements in the number of service requests created. Trash that is set out in bags and
not contained in trash cans with tight-fitting lids, are prone to rip open, spilling the contents out. This leads
to the trash being spread across the alley and/or street. It also provides food for rodents, as well as stray
cats and dogs, which can further spread the trash through the neighborhoods. The intent of the Municipal
Trash Can Pilot is to demonstrate how providing contained trash cans and recycling bins to residents will
eliminate this problem, reduce litter, and increase neighborhood cleanliness.
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MEASURE OF PROGRESS
Since the pilot began in July 2014, there have been 108 fewer calls for rat eradication from the pilot
neighborhoods and 23 fewer requests to clean dirty alleys, when compared to the same time period the
previous year. Additionally, the pilot neighborhoods have shown a 26% to 37% increase in recycling when
compared to the same time period the previous year.
It is assumed that a city-wide roll out would lead to significant reductions in the rat population and generally
cleaner alleys and streets. Further, reductions to the rat population would likely result in fewer workers'
compensation claims and other public health benefits. While definitive cost savings cannot be calculated at
this time, it is believed that potential savings in these areas would easily cover the initial outlay of funds
necessary to expand the program.
ACTIVITY-RELATED COSTS
Project related costs came to $600,000 when carried out in select neighborhoods. A city-wide roll out of the
program is estimated to cost between $10 and $12 million.
DURATION OF ACTIVITY
The Municipal Trash Can Pilot started on July 2, 2014 and continues operation.
PARTNERS AND PARTICIPANTS
The Bureau of Solid Waste; Greater Mondawmin Coordinating Council; Belair-Edison Neighborhoods, Inc.;
Belair Edison Neighborhood Association, and Healthy Neighborhoods.
POINT OF CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION
Valentina I. Ukwuoma, valentina.ukwuoma@baltimorecity.gov, 410-396-5134
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BALTIMORE WATER WHEEL
TRASH INTERCEPTOR
AREA OF IMPACT
Baltimore Inner Harbor, Maryland
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY
In May 2014, the Waterfront Partnership, working with Clearwater Mills, installed the world's first ever solar-
powered water wheel trash interceptor at the mouth of the Jones Falls in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The
primary stated goal for this effort was to greatly reduce the amount of trash flowing from Jones Falls into
Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The secondary goal was to show that water wheel trash interceptors are a cost
efficient way to remove trash from water.
Depending on precipitation, the Baltimore Water Wheel Trash Interceptor (Water Wheel) collects anywhere
from 2 tons to 75 tons of floating debris from the Baltimore Inner Harbor every month. In the period
between May 2014 and June 2015, the Water Wheel has collected 278 tons of trash consisting of 157,130
plastic bottles, 204,419 polystyrene containers, 5.7 million cigarette butts, 3,336 glass bottles, 81,420
grocery bags, 130,219 chip bags, and 940 sports balls.
So far, the Water Wheel has exceeded all expectations and is removing tons of trash from the Baltimore
Harbor at a cost well below the cost of removing the same trash using alternative methods such as
skimmer boats. Additionally, the Water Wheel is powered by renewable resources (solar and hydro) and
operated via the Internet, thereby requiring fewer resource hours than skimmer boats.
MEASURE OF PROGRESS
In addition to estimating the amount of trash removed by the Water Wheel from entering into the Inner
Harbor, the progress is being tracked against the cost efficiencies of the trash skimmer operations of the
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Department of Public Works. While data is limited, initial findings show that the Water Wheel is a cost
efficient technology for supplementing the work of skimmer boats when implemented in suitable
locations. Water Wheels can capture the majority of trash and debris coming from a specific outfall,
allowing skimmer boats to focus on other areas. The Baltimore Water Wheel Trash Interceptor removes
trash at a cost of $430 per ton.
Interestingly, all of the outreach and education that resulted from the popularity of the Water Wheel was an
added bonus and was not part of the initial program intent. The Water Wheel has had a lot of media
attention, including front page news stories on NBC, a story on National Public Radio, and a Ford Motor
Company commercial focused on the Water Wheel.
ACTIVITY-RELATED COSTS
The capital costs of the Baltimore Water Wheel Trash Interceptor were $800,000. Ongoing operation and
maintenance costs vary based on rain events but are estimated at $130,000 annually.
DURATION OF ACTIVITY
The Baltimore Water Wheel Trash Interceptor was installed in May 2014 and is still in operation.
PARTNERS AND PARTICIPANTS
Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, Constellation Energy, the Maryland Port Administration, the Abell
Foundation, and the Baltimore City Department of Public Works.
POINT OF CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION
Adam Lindquist, Manager, Healthy Harbor Initiative, Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, Inc.
adam@waterfrontpartnership.org
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REGIONAL LITTER PREVENTION CAMPAIGN
YOUR LITTER HITS
AREA OF IMPACT
Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY
Recognizing the importance of public education and awareness in creating behavior change, the Alice
Ferguson Foundation created the Regional Litter Prevention Campaign (Campaign) to change littering
behaviors of residents in the Potomac Watershed. The campaign consists of a toolkit that includes
advertisement and visuals, communication and community outreach pieces; these are meant to fit
effortlessly into existing programs. The Campaign is designed to be implemented at the community
grassroots level, as well as the broad jurisdictional level, in order to best reach the target audience of
"trashers" (those who litter), community leaders and members, local businesses, and the media.
The Campaign allows communities and jurisdictions to build awareness of residents and local businesses
to the harmful nature of litter, which will help to drive behavior change among litterers in their area. The end
goal of the Campaign is to create a lasting reduction of litter in the Potomac Watershed by educating and
inspiring a positive change in littering behavior. In order to achieve this goal, the Alice Ferguson Foundation
is looking for new jurisdictions and communities to implement the Campaign for the message to have
widespread impact. The Campaign implementation occurred as follows:
• 2008-2010. The Alice Ferguson Foundation conducted social research in order to develop a regional
public outreach and education campaign to understand the root causes of littering and to change
littering behaviors.
• 2010. Media and message consultants were hired to research, develop and implement campaign
plans and materials based on the findings from the social research.
• 2011. The Campaign was piloted with grassroots outreach strategies in the community of
Deanwood and through a broader jurisdictional approach in Montgomery County, Fairfax County,
Arlington County, the District of Columbia, and Prince George's County.
• 2012. The Campaign expanded to the communities of Forest Heights and Oxon Run, both in Maryland.
• 2013. The grassroots Campaign effort was further expanded to include Capitol Heights South to
Forest Heights in Prince George's County and the District of Columbia Wards 5, 6, 7, and 8.
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MEASURE OF PROGRESS
Evaluating of the Campaign deployment (both scope and scale) is done via regular contact with partners
and tracking outreach efforts of staff.
Three methods used to evaluate the effectiveness of changing behavior include: phone interviews, door-to-
door interviews, and direct behavioral observations. The first two aforementioned methods were not
effective ways at evaluating effectiveness due to biases related to self-reporting and because many of the
people reached had not been exposed to the Campaign. The direct behavioral observations were effective
because it was done at sites in close proximity to where Campaign material was posted, increasing the
likelihood of the pedestrians being exposed to the Campaign.
A 45% reduction in the number of litterers and a 77% increase in the number of people throwing trash into
litter cans were observed before and after the Litter Campaign materials were posted at four sites in Prince
George's County in 2013.
The Campaign was evaluated at four sites in Prince George's County, and a 45% reduction in the number
of litterers was observed after the Campaign was initiated.
ACTIVITY-RELATED COSTS
The total costs for this Campaign approximated $776,000 during the timeframe of 2008 to spring 2014. Of
those costs, 17% were in-kind donations.
Of the total amount, 38% was spent on research and development, 51% was spent on implementation, 9%
was spent on evaluation, and 1% was spent on other activities.
DURATION OF ACTIVITY
The Regional Litter Prevention Campaign was launched in winter 2011 and continues.
PARTNERS AND PARTICIPANTS
County Partners include The District of Columbia, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Montgomery County,
and Prince George's County.
Community partners include businesses, civic associations, schools, community groups, faith-based
organizations, citizens, parks, recreation centers, libraries, and others.
POINT OF CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION
trash@fergusonfoundation.org, 301-292-5665
Program Website:
http://fergusonfoundation.org/trash-free-potomac-watershed-initiative/education/litter-prevention/
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Aquatic Trash Prevention Great Practices Compendium - Mid-Atlantic States
Trash Free Waters Program
TRASH FREE SCHOOLS PROJECT
AREA OF IMPACT
Maryland and the District of Columbia
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY
The Trash Free Schools Project works to educate and empower students, faculty, and staff to reduce each
school's waste footprint by providing education and resources, including a comprehensive guidebook, to
aid in rethinking, reducing, reusing, and recycling. As part of the project, students and staff at K-12 schools
will have the resources needed to investigate an environmental issue while implementing a strong waste
reduction and litter prevention strategy. An easy eight-step process guides schools in creating a green
team and building momentum from year to year.
The Trash Free Schools Project:
• Creates an active and environmentally-aware school culture by increasing participation and
engagement among the school body.
• Fosters environmental stewardship through student action by teaching the process of how to
recognize, investigate, and take action on an environmental issue.
• Allows schools to gain recognition as an environmental leader among schools and establish a
starting point for other "green" certification programs.
• Integrates waste reduction and environmental themes into lessons and curricula.
• Provides service learning opportunities for students.
October 2015
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Aquatic Trash Prevention Great Practices Compendium - Mid-Atlantic States Trash Free Waters Program
MEASURE OF PROGRESS
Participating schools are graded on their activities using the Trash Free Schools Report Cards. This self-
study, conducted at the end of the school year, measures action items, including school-wide education,
effectiveness of a recycling program, and sustainability of the program in subsequent years. Points are
assessed based on how well each program performs, and they are given a letter grade to assess their
progress. All reporting schools indicate a new Trash Free indicator to be incorporated each year. Examples
of an indicator can include: recycling bins in each classroom, bin monitoring for appropriate materials, and
organizing a schoolyard cleanup. Trash Free Schools currently reaches 5,500 students in Maryland and
3,000 students in the District of Columbia each year.
ACTIVITY-RELATED COSTS
The activity-related costs are roughly $15,000 annually. The program is free for participating schools.
DURATION OF ACTIVITY
This project runs throughout the school year - from late August until the middle of June.
PARTNERS AND PARTICIPANTS
Although many partnering schools join through educational outreach programs and the Regional Litter
Prevention Campaign, which is also an initiative by the Alice Ferguson Foundation, any school can
participate. As of August 2015, 23 schools participate in this program; a list of currently participating
schools can be found on the program website provided below.
Additional partners include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, District of Columbia
Department of the Environment, District of Columbia Schools, Prince Georges County Public Schools,
Montgomery County Public Schools, Prince George's County Department of Parks and Recreation, and
Morton's Kids of District of Columbia.
POINT OF CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION
trash@fergusonfoundation.org, 301-292-5665
Program Website:
http://ferqusonfoundation.orq/trash-free-potomac-watershed-initiative/education/trash-free-schools/
October 2015
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Aquatic Trash Prevention Great Practices Compendium - Mid-Atlantic States
Trash Free Waters Program
LITTER AND ILLEGAL DUMPING
ENFORCEMENT MONTH
AREA OF IMPACT
Maryland, Virginia, and District of Columbia
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY
The Alice Ferguson Foundation and its partners work to raise awareness of the legal consequences of
littering, illegal dumping, and related crimes. Further, the Alice Ferguson Foundation raises awareness of the
social and environmental effects that littering has on our communities, our economy, and the Potomac
Watershed. In addition, there are increasing enforcement efforts through Litter Enforcement Month and
training law enforcement officers about the importance of enforcing litter and litter-related laws. By increasing
enforcement efforts, the hope is to educate the public and provide incentives for behavior change.
The mission of Litter and Illegal Dumping Enforcement Month is to raise awareness of litter, illegal dumping,
and related crimes; the laws associated with them, and their social and environmental effects on our
communities, our economy, and the Potomac River.
On March 22nd, 2011, the Litter Enforcement Working Group met at the Metropolitan Washington Council of
Governments at which point goals for Litter Enforcement Month (LEM) were confirmed. Participating
Jurisdictions agree to four actions, an alternate for non-code enforcement agencies, such as Sheriffs offices,
was added in 2012:
Public Education: The communities served will be educated about the effects of litter and the legal
ramifications of being caught. This can be done through a variety of outreach approaches using media outlets,
posters, and community meetings.
Officer Education: During LEM, officers will be encouraged to enforce litter and litter related laws by being
taught about the effects of litter and reminded how to enforce them. This can be accomplished by providing
information during officer roll call announcements and officer training, as well as posting flyers.
October 2015
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Aquatic Trash Prevention Great Practices Compendium - Mid-Atlantic States Trash Free Waters Program
Enforce and Track Citations: Throughout LEM, participating jurisdictions will keep track of any citations,
violations and other reports concerning litter, illegal dumping and related laws which include the following:
Blight, Hoarding, Most-littered areas, Uncovered hauls, Graffiti, Abandoned Property, Illegal Tire hauling or
piling, Loitering, and Snipe Signs
Reporting Out: Inform the Alice Ferguson Foundation of their efforts during LEM by completing a simple,
online survey and sharing newsworthy stories.
Alternate activity for non-code enforcement agencies: Engage Community Labor Forces or Alternative
Incarceration Branches to participate in the Potomac Watershed Cleanup by reporting the trash picked up
during the month of April.
MEASURE OF PROGRESS
The success of LEM is tracked through various metrics including ongoing participation, number of citations issued,
community outreach efforts, and the amount of trash picked up for the month of April. In 2015, the Metropolitan
Washington Council of Governments Police Chiefs Committee unanimously endorsed LEM. The 2014 LEM gave
out 348 citations for activities including littering, abandoned property, and illegal dumping. This is a decrease in
citations issued when compared to 643 citations issued in 2013 and 850 citations issued in 2012.
In 2014, 400 Metro Transit Police were reminded about LEM activities. The effort has also attracted
attention from news outlets with LEM 2014 being featured in 4 local newspapers and a radio show.
ACTIVITY-RELATED COSTS
Activity-related costs are roughly $6,000 per year. This does not include the cost of training to participating groups.
DURATION OF ACTIVITY
This program has been implemented during the month of April of each year since 2011. Additionally, the
Alice Ferguson Foundation undergoes six months of event planning, preparation, and evaluation.
PARTNERS AND PARTICIPANTS
Fourteen agencies from nine jurisdictions participated in LEM 2014:
Maryland: Montgomery County Police and Prince George's County Police.
Virginia: City of Alexandria Police, Code Administration, Sheriff's Office, and Transportation and
Environmental Services; Prince William County Police and Neighborhood Services; Falls Church City
Police; and Manassas City Police.
Additional Agencies: The District of Columbia Metropolitan Police; Metro Transit Police; and the United
States Park Police.
POINT OF CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION
trash@fergusonfoundation.org, 301-292-5665
Program Website:
http://fergusonfoundation.org/trash-free-potomac-watershed-initiative/litter-enforcement/litter-enforcement-month/
October 2015
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