Kevin the Marmot Rolls Into the Car Wash with a Fresh ‘Simple As That’ Anti-Littering Message
A trash can isn't always around when you need one. So this fall, the Washington Department of Ecology is helping drivers take one with them.
Ecology's “Simple As That" campaign is teaming up with car washes across Washington to hand out, free reusable car litter bags, helping drivers keep their cars tidy and making it easier to hold onto trash until it can be properly thrown away. The campaign mascot, Kevin the Marmot, is spreading the word through a series of videos to highlight how everyone has a role to play in litter prevention.
“People want to do the right thing, but when you’re driving, a trash can isn’t always nearby,” said Washington Department of Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller. “A car litter bag gives drivers a simple way to manage their trash while on the road, helping keep our highways and communities clean.”
Ecology’s research identified “not having a trash bag in the car” as one of the top reasons people litter. The “Simple As That” campaign launches October 1 with advertising around the state and new partnerships with local car washes. This year’s partners are Auto Spa Car Washes in central Washington and The Wave Car Wash in western Washington. Customers can pick up their own free litter bag at participating locations in October, while supplies last.
The new commercial features Kevin, the anti-littering marmot from the “We Keep WA Litter Free” and “Secure Your Load” campaigns. This environmentally minded marmot reminds drivers to keep trash where it belongs – not on our roads. The new spot is available for media use and social sharing in English and Spanish.
Every year, almost 38 million pounds of litter – about 5 pounds of litter for every person in Washington – is dropped on our state’s roads and public areas. Paid crews and volunteers collected 2,567 tons (more than 5.1 million pounds) in 2025. Annual cleanup efforts cost approximately $17 million per year, yet this significant effort still only addresses a fraction of the problem.
Litter is a big problem with a simple solution — everyone in Washington doing their part. The “Simple As That” campaign and its partners are promoting a litter-free Washington by encouraging Washingtonians to:
- Keep a litter bag in your car. Use a litter bag while traveling to keep your vehicle tidy and reduce the chances of littering accidentally when you open a door or window. When visiting parks and other recreation areas, bring a bag with you so it’s easy to pack out what you carried in.
- Hold on to trash while traveling until you reach your destination or a waste bin. It may not seem like a big deal to toss the occasional bag or bottle on the ground, but those decisions add up to millions of pounds of litter (and millions of dollars of clean up) every year.
- Live litter free and help others do the same. Make sure your friends and family know how to live litter free and help them make good choices. When we all look out for each other, it makes a big difference for our state.
“No one wants to see litter on our roads. We all play a role keeping Washington beautiful, including the public preventing roadway litter in the first place,” said Julie Meredith, Secretary of Transportation, Washington State Department of Transportation. “Our crews are also fixing guardrails, responding to crashes and clearing snow and ice – and every piece of litter that stays off the road is one less bit of trash that crews or volunteers have to pick up.”
A 2022 statewide litter study found that the most commonly littered items include cigarette butts, food wrappers and snack bags, glass bottles, and construction and demolition of debris. A new litter study is underway and will be completed in early 2027.
To learn more about this campaign, visit LitterFreeWA.org/simple or PorUnWAImpecable.org/simple.
More information
Campaign media contacts
Washington Department of Ecology
Amber Smith, 360-688-4957, amber.smith@ecy.wa.gov
Washington State Department of Transportation
Tina Werner, 360-705-7080, christina.werner@wsdot.wa.gov
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