01:47 PM CST on Monday, December 12, 2005

From Staff Reports

Texas Department of Transportation officials said Monday that litter along state roads has dropped by nearly one-third since 2001.

A study commissioned by the agency revealed the amount of total annual litter accumulation in Texas fell to 827 million pieces in 2005, down from 1.25 billion four years earlier.

TxDOT Travel Division Director Doris Howdeshell cited this result as proof that the “Don’t Mess with Texas” ad campaign, now entering its 20th year, is still working.

"We are encouraged by these results, because it indicates our efforts are working," Howdeshell said.

However, she said concern remains about the number of cigarette butts and other tobacco products found along highways.

Though the study found that cigarette litter decreased by 10 percent between 2001 and 2005, tobacco-related products are still the most common litter on Texas roadways, accounting for 33 percent of all litter found.

The results also determined that 29 percent of all litter is food-related, ranging from fast-food packaging to candy wrappers. Drink-related items made up another 11 percent, including soft drink cans and bottles, straws and cup lids.

Similar litter studies were also conducted in 1995 and 2001. In all three studies, researchers collected litter from Texas roadways, sorted it by hand and then studied its type, brand, point of origin and the location where it was found.

TxDOT officials said it costs nearly $36 million each year to clean up highway litter.