Volunteers Tackle Mounting Roadside Litter in Camas and Washougal

Local nonprofit mobilizes cleanups, but advocates for policy changes to address root causes of waste problem.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 1:07pm

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The East County Citizens' Alliance, a nonprofit organization, has been leading volunteer crews to clean up stretches of State Highway 14 through Camas and Washougal, Washington since 2022. In that time, they have removed an estimated 24,000 pounds of trash, including litter ranging from lumber tags and industrial plastic to fast-food packaging, Styrofoam, and alcohol bottles. However, the volunteers say the problem is only getting worse, and they are now expanding their mission to advocate for better enforcement of existing litter laws and new strategies to reduce waste at its source.

Why it matters

The roadside litter not only creates an eyesore and gives a poor impression to tourists visiting the area for its natural beauty, but it also poses dangers to drivers and has negative environmental impacts. The scale of the problem has prompted the volunteer organization to shift its focus to policy advocacy, recognizing that cleanup efforts alone are not enough to address the root causes of the waste accumulation.

The details

Since 2022, the East County Citizens' Alliance has organized volunteer crews to clean up stretches of State Highway 14 through the cities of Camas and Washougal in Washington. Through this effort, the volunteers have removed an estimated 24,000 pounds of trash, including a wide variety of litter such as lumber tags, industrial plastic, fast-food packaging, Styrofoam, and alcohol bottles. However, the volunteers say the problem is only getting worse, and they have now expanded their mission to include advocacy for better enforcement of existing litter laws and the pursuit of new strategies to reduce waste at its source.

  • The East County Citizens' Alliance has been leading volunteer cleanup efforts along State Highway 14 since 2022.
  • In the time since the cleanup efforts began, the volunteers have removed an estimated 24,000 pounds of trash.

The players

East County Citizens' Alliance

A nonprofit organization that has mobilized volunteer crews to clean up stretches of State Highway 14 through Camas and Washougal, Washington since 2022.

Madeline Lyne

A resident of Camas, Washington who has participated in the cleanup efforts and expressed frustration that the problem of roadside litter is only getting worse.

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What they’re saying

“The trash is an eyesore, a danger to drivers, bad for the environment and gives such a bad impression to tourists who come here for the natural beauty. It is undeniable and unacceptable.”

— Madeline Lyne, Camas resident

What’s next

The East County Citizens' Alliance plans to continue advocating for better enforcement of existing litter laws and the pursuit of new strategies to reduce waste at its source, in addition to their ongoing cleanup efforts.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges communities face in addressing the growing problem of roadside litter, which not only detracts from the natural beauty of an area but also poses safety and environmental concerns. While volunteer cleanup efforts can help mitigate the issue, tackling the root causes through policy changes and waste reduction initiatives is crucial to making lasting progress.