Gov. John Carney, joined by government officials, formally announced the Delaware Anti-Litter Alliance – a coalition of local leaders seeking to reduce litter in Delaware.
The coalition is an initiative of the Keep DE Litter Free campaign that Carney announced last month in Rehoboth Beach.
Towns, cities, and organizations that joined the Alliance have pledged to encourage their residents and members to not litter, to pursue anti-litter policies, and to hold at least one cleanup each year, with the goal of reducing litter in Delaware over time.
“Wilmington is pleased to join with our partner cities and towns throughout Delaware in support of Governor Carney’s anti-litter efforts,” said Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, who launched Wilmington’s Beautiful City Initiative in 2017. “We can support each other as part of the new alliance and within a reasonable amount of time lay claim to Delaware being the cleanest and most beautiful state in the nation.”
“I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to Governor Carney and everybody that helped launch the statewide Anti-Litter campaign,” said Rehoboth Beach Mayor Paul Kuhns. “Not only is a clean city so important for the people that live and work here, but it’s also crucial for our tourism industry. Visitors to our state contributed $3.3 billion to our tourism economy. I am proud of the efforts to keep the City of Rehoboth Beach clean. We have dedicated staff that works day and night to keep our streets, neighborhoods, and beach clear of litter. This campaign is so important to keep your neighborhood clean and your city healthy – for your family, for the environment, for the economy, for the community, and future generations.”
Visit de.gov/litterfree to support the campaign and to view a full list of Alliance partners.
A 2018 study from the State of Delaware and Keep Delaware Beautiful identified more than 6,000 pieces of trash for every mile of roadway surveyed. Cigarette butts, plastic bags, fast food wrappers, cans, and bottles accounted for a significant portion of the roadway waste.
“We agree that litter is a real problem throughout our state,” said Julie Miro Wenger, Executive Director of Keep Delaware Beautiful. “We also agree that everyone needs to play a part in taking care of our natural resources and our communities. Littering is a personal action and we need to change behavior. There is no barrier for all residents to participate in taking pride in our community by committing to not litter. Everyone can commit to helping create a more beautiful Delaware.”
