HomeMy WebLinkAbout100126 - FW_ Kevin the Marmot Rolls into the Car Wash with a Fresh ‘Simple As That’ Anti-Littering Message
From: Washington Department of Ecology <waecy@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 1, 2026 8:36 AM
To: Heidi Eisenhour <HEisenhour@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Subject: Kevin the Marmot Rolls into the Car Wash with a Fresh ‘Simple As That’ Anti-Littering Message
ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Ecology's “Simple As That” litter prevention campaign launches Oct. 1. Free litter bags are available at partnering car washes in western WA
<https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/WAECY/2021/10/5093602/color-bar_original.png>
<https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/WAECY/2021/11/5151852/ecylogo-horiz-color-allmargins_original.png>
NEWS RELEASE
Oct. 1, 2026
<https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/WAECY/2026/09/14438365/7150967/kevin_crop.jpg>
Kevin the Marmot Rolls into the Car Wash with a Fresh ‘Simple As That’ Anti-Littering Message
WA’s litter prevention campaign partners with car washes and debuts new commercial
OLYMPIA – 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 <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FXg3YHJ3dSiA%3Fsi=25v
W-apQelTXjqiM%26utm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/1fU3fGmzeIyzruBJi8H-ayx8z3PtsgxdB63qMWEdAXI=452> and Spanish
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F-JC8EUb7CRc%3Fsi=JUGgXpqPPLQsnaWW%26utm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-0000
00/hSesZIDEKq-mVJDcfezbQ8x2PaaWG9dN_ABvVDWP5B8=452> .
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 <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fecology.wa.gov%2Fwaste-toxics%2Fsolid-waste-litter%2Flitter%2Flitter-studies%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery
/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/-dA-VFmQrNfQIUj4VntjUvHG6LefK0_HDoWFfMs2XJY=452> 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 <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Flitterfreewa.org%2Fsimple%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001a0f81c2
04e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/gUd29h2_y2bevmfG9kdhUsD94LvY8ypxjJHI5uFUnpg=452> or PorUnWAImpecable.org/simple <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fporunwaimpecable.org%
2Fsimple%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/iPGcFEHeE99pJ_SXPkZOgsXpAh4O-FhBmj0y1TUs-fk=452> .
More information
* To lend a hand cleaning up roadside litter, please visit WSDOT’s Adopt-a-Highway volunteer program webpage <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdot.wa.gov%2Fbusiness-wsdot%2Fhighway-s
igns%2Fadopt-highway%2Fadopt-highway-volunteers%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/44OlJF0oGFxDAH0fqaEgt69NPvyJ7WcW-voXJyixN7c=
452> .
* To learn more about Ecology’s litter pick up and prevention programs, please visit the Litter in Washington webpage <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fecology.wa.gov%2FWaste-Toxics%2F
Solid-waste-litter%2FLitter%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/-nZm8W96oqfYqUq8SmSSfqi9-2OAArS1_gInc-UjkWo=452>
.
Campaign media contacts
Washington Department of Ecology
Amber Smith, 360-688-4957, amber.smith@ecy.wa.gov <mailto:amber.smith@ecy.wa.gov>
Washington State Department of Transportation
Tina Werner, 360-705-7080, christina.werner@wsdot.wa.gov <mailto:christina.werner@wsdot.wa.gov>
Read more Ecology news <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fecology.wa.gov%2Fnews%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000
/ogdjinNOHg07rgLyP_x06Ogqj19Fx60qBqZC-31aMVQ=452>
Dave Bennett
Ecology communications
<https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/WAECY/2021/10/5093778/letter_original.png>
dave.bennett@ecy.wa.gov <mailto:dave.bennett@ecy.wa.gov>
<https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/WAECY/2021/10/5093780/phone_original.png>
360-791-9830
Subscribe/Unsubscribe <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fpublic.govdelivery.com%2Faccounts%2FWAECY%2Fsubscriber%2Ftopics%3Fqsp=ecology/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83
580cb-000000/Rin8c8vhE8xHU1M0fLcBuWRegYMSMGlJSRcgLwYsBGc=452> Our Website <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fecology.wa.gov%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000
1a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/2U6OLFoFz9xUMgwIjS5CEu07US6yW7EXUSRVjVR_kQI=452> Accessibility <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fecology.wa.gov%2FAbout-u
s%2FAccessibility-equity%2FAccessibility-ADA%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/LTfSNLiKK8ywX8oSFKC-Qg2YTG2OcE6qTJ9Qi7TQH0M=452
>
________________________________
Follow Us:
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FEcologyWA%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/fkL32n06Jp
arjTPEHirjvzicdq6DjvBVd4ZWmneqyBc=452> <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2FEcologyWA%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e1
4d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/AQxL9h4qX2YluOxHMFV0VME7C2LCl6seQb3d4xxUcPQ=452> <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.threads.net%2F@ecologywa%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=gov
delivery/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/9dc5ZeJFQ-_FI2okP24zTww5Fd_j_Q_Ly-zO525Djps=452> <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fbsky.app%2Fprofile%2Fecol
ogy.wa.gov%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/zcmipZnnXkmQKtQSYTkjJnYvY6mhZ-pjV2nOakMDh9I=452> <https://links-1.govdelivery
.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F@ecologywa%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/18FsPxwNX30jJAtYc_ACh0eN7PR89mCd1D4OnqIIi88
=452> <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2FEcologyWA%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/TH3S2
t6xARqW9HgWe8-vWldOlc0xVAogEq8gn1LgoYs=452> <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fwashingtonstatedepartmentofecology%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=gov
delivery/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/xLKv7KEdTEqS75PPM2wcTTf85QXKy9sjuZZf7_O2tFI=452>
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fcontent.govdelivery.com%2Faccounts%2FWAECY%2Fbulletins%2F42cef51/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-
e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/2RhCIoSHzL58IbblakDpYbbDboVGL5qWBTfE_7SFNmI=452> .
________________________________
This email was sent to heisenhour@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:heisenhour@co.jefferson.wa.us> using Granicus Communications Cloud on behalf of: Washington Department of Ecology · 300
Desmond Drive SE · Lacey, WA 98503
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fgranicus.com%2Fsolution%2Fdigital-communication-engagement%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e
576a83580cb-000000/8Uqr9gFqswg7D2kqqyj2I_vkVg4V7WOeeYCqa0I90j0=452> <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fgranicus.com%2Fsolution%2Fdigital-communication-engagement%2F%3Futm_medium=email%
26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/8Uqr9gFqswg7D2kqqyj2I_vkVg4V7WOeeYCqa0I90j0=452> <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fgranicus.com
%2Fsolution%2Fdigital-communication-engagement%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/8Uqr9gFqswg7D2kqqyj2I_vkVg4V7WOeeYCqa0I90j
0=452>
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CI1/010001a0f81c204e-6f42a14f-e14d-41e8-bc0b-e576a83580cb-000000/q9zMq_RZd8914NVP7o9_C6uSKcj4iayX9K29CZ3apqA=452>
"EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchCommentsChangedEvent" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchCommentSelectedEvent" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchCreateComment" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchDocChangedEvent"
: { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchEndCommentSession" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchEndDraftEvent" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchEvent" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchFocusPaneTriggeredEvent"
: { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchInitCommentSessionAsync" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchInitialRenderCompletedEvent" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchInvalidEvent" : { "EventFlag" :
2 }, "DispatchLoadThreads" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchPaneChangedEvent" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchPaneFocusStateChangedEvent" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchPaneToRenderEvent"
: { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchSelectComment" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchSetHalfPaneDisplayMode" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchThemeChanged" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DispatchDeleteComment"
: { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DiscardDraft" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "ClearCommentSelectionAction" : { "EventFlag" : 2 } } }, "HomePage" : { "Events" : { "PlaceChangeSlabCondition" : { "EventFlag"
: 2 }, "OnShowHomePage" : { "EventFlag" : 2 } }, "SubNamespaces" : { "Search" : { "Events" : { "SeenByUser" : { "EventFlag" : 2 } } } } }, "OfficeStart" : { "Events" : { "SetupTemplateProperties"
: { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CurrentUIActivePlaceChange" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "TriggerThumbnailActionRun" : { "EventFlag" : 2 } } }, "DocumentNotifications" : { "Events" : { "RegisterOnIdleFeatureGateD
isabled" : { "EventFlag" : 2 } } }, "MruServiceApi" : { "SubNamespaces" : { "Documents" : { "Events" : { "ReadRequest" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "WriteRequest" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "OnRequestSucceeded
" : { "EventFlag" : 2 } } }, "Places" : { "Events" : { "ReadRequest" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "WriteRequest" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "OnRequestSucceeded" : { "EventFlag" : 2 } } } } },
"MsoSharing" : { "Events" : { "CMsoSharingServiceHelperEndGetHostCapabilities" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CMsoSharingServiceHelperGetHostCapabilities" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CMsoSharingServiceHelperEn
dGetUserAttributes" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CMsoSharingServiceHelperGetUserAttributes" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CMsoSharingServiceHelperEndGetLinks" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CMsoSharingServiceHelperGet
Links" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CMsoSharingServiceHelperEndSetLinks" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CMsoSharingServiceHelperSetLinks" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CMsoSharingServiceHelperEndGetPermissions"
: { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CMsoSharingServiceHelperGetPermissions" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CMsoSharingServiceHelperEndSetPermissions" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CMsoSharingServiceHelperSetPermissions"
: { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CMsoSharingServiceHelperCheckPermissions" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CMsoSharingServiceHelperGetSharingInformation" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CMsoSharingServiceHelperBeginSetPermi
ssions" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CMsoSharingServiceHelperGetSharingVersions" : { "EventFlag" : 2 } } }, "ModernBackstage" : { "Events" : { "BackstagePageControlUserCreateControlUser"
: { "EventFlag" : 2 } } }, "DesktopBackstageNavigation" : { "Events" : { "NavigationTaskInvoke" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "TaskInvokeOnReadFolder" : { "EventFlag" : 2 } } }, "DesktopSharing"
: { "Events" : { "CollabPaneUserSetCollabPaneMode" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CollabPaneUserClickSharingLink" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "CollabPaneUserIsCurrentDocEnterpriseProtected" : {
"EventFlag" : 2 } } }, "DocumentsSharedWithMe" : { "Events" : { "DocumentsSharedWithMeRequestDocumentsSharedWithMeAsync" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentsSharedWithMeRequestCachedDocumentsSharedWith
Me" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentsSharedWithMeIdentityCacheRequestResult" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentsSharedWithMeRequestCachedDocumentsForFailures" : { "EventFlag" : 2 } } },
"MruAdapter" : { "Events" : { "HrAddDocument" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "HrAddPlace" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "HrAddDocumentWithOptionsWithContext" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "HrAddPlaceWithOptionsWithContex
t" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "HrAddDocumentPathWithContext" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "HrAddPlacePathWithContext" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "HrAddDocumentIndex" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "HrAddPlaceIndex"
: { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "HrRemovePath" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "HrAddWithOptionsWithContext" : { "EventFlag" : 2 } } }, "AppDocs" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "Document" : { "SubNamespaces"
: { "Activation" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "LastOpenedDocumentMetadata" : { "EventFlag" : 2 } } }, "ModernDocTemplateService" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "SavePromptHelper" : { "EventFlag"
: 2 }, "DocumentChat" : { "Events" : { "DocumentChatAvailabilityRtcListenerConnectedEvent" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatAvailabilityRtcListenerConnectingEvent" : { "EventFlag"
: 2 }, "DocumentChatAvailabilityRtcListenerDisconnectedEvent" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatAvailabilityRtcListenerDisconnectingEvent" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatAvailabilityRtcListen
erRefreshPersistentStateAsync" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatAvailabilityRtcListenerRefreshPersistentStateAsyncInternal" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatAvailabilityRtcListenerRefreshPersis
tentStateAsyncRetry" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatAvailabilityRtcListenerStartRealtimeConnectionListening" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatAvailabilityRtcListenerStopRealtimeConnectionList
ening" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatRtcBroadcasterConnectedEvent" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatRtcBroadcasterConnectingEvent" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatRtcBroadcasterDisconnec
tedEvent" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatRtcBroadcasterDisconnectingEvent" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatRtcBroadcasterRebroadcastPersistentState" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatRtcBr
oadcasterRebroadcastPersistentStateInternal" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatRtcBroadcasterRebroadcastPersistentStateRetry" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatRtcBroadcasterRebroadcastPersistent
StateRetryInnerLoop" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatRtcBroadcasterRefreshPersistentStateAsync" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatRtcBroadcasterStartRealtimeConnectionListening"
: { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "DocumentChatRtcBroadcasterStopRealtimeConnectionListening" : { "EventFlag" : 2 } } } }, "Events" : { "EDP*" : { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "EnterpriseDataProtection*"
: { "EventFlag" : 2 }, "MsoEnterpriseDataProtection*" : { "EventFlag" : 2 } } }