Coalition of local officials, organizations is an initiative of Keep DE Litter Free campaign

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney joined Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, Wilmington City Council President Hanifa Shabazz, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, members of the General Assembly and advocates to announce the Delaware Anti-Litter Alliance – a coalition of local leaders committed to reducing litter in Delaware.

The coalition is an initiative of the Keep DE Litter Free campaign that Governor 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 litter cleanup each year – with the goal of reducing litter in Delaware over time.

“Litter threatens our natural resources, our communities, and our economy,” said Governor Carney. “I’m proud to stand with mayors, county executives, legislators and advocacy organizations statewide to encourage Delawareans and visitors to not litter, to protect our outdoor spaces, and respect our state’s unique natural heritage. We share a collective goal to reduce litter in our state over time. Together, we are committed to keeping Delaware a beautiful place to live, work, and raise a family.”

“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.”

“This statewide campaign is so timely and complements our efforts to beautify Wilmington,” said City Council President Hanifa Shabazz. “The campaign also aligns with the implementation of City Council’s Strategic Plan for a beautiful and clean city. We are engaging civic groups to encourage educational initiatives about how removing litter instills community pride among our children and people of all ages. Thank you Governor for this initiative, and we are happy to be supportive.”

“Litter is more than just an eyesore; it pollutes our streets and can end up doing damage to infrastructure, costing state and local governments money for cleanup and repairs,” said State Representative Nnamdi Chukwuocha, who represents the 1st District in the City of Wilmington. “I’m proud to be joining the Anti-Litter Alliance to help protect our environment and keep our state clean and healthy.”

“As a community it is important to take these vital steps on improving our environment now and for years to come,” said Dover Mayor Robin R. Christiansen. “Little steps can leave a big imprint. Our hope is that every town encourages their constituents to take those steps. Secure your trash and recycling cans, keep a bag for litter in your car, make use of recycling bins and reusable bags and participate in a community cleanup day. If we all do our part, we will all reap the benefits.”

“Throwing trash along a roadway or in a park or dumping it on a vacant lot hurts our environment, imposes cleanup costs on the government and disproportionately impacts our neighborhoods that are most in need,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “New Castle County is proud to join and support the Governor’s anti-littering alliance. Our success will depend on the choices made by individuals across our state, so let’s work together as a team to make Delaware pristine!”

“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.”

“Sussex County is proud to join the Keep DE Litter Free campaign, which gives a boost to some of the collective cleanup efforts that are already underway here in the county,” said Sussex County Administrator Todd F. Lawson. “From our incentive-based complaint program through CrimeStoppers to the recent partnership with the State correction and transportation departments to organize special cleanups for trash trouble spots, the new awareness campaign will really drive home the message that it takes everyone – municipalities, counties, the state, organizations, businesses, and the general public – to tackle this problem once and for all.”

“Our business community, residents and civic leaders have been dismayed by the increase in litter in recent years and have taken matters into their own hands – literally – by organizing weekly litter pick up patrols downtown and neighborhood cleanup projects,” said Milford Mayor Archie Campbell. “We are proud to be an inaugural member of the Delaware Anti-Litter Alliance so we can unite to take this effort to the next level.”

“Greenwood is involved in the Governor’s Litter Alliance because we really want to see no litter along our highways,” said Greenwood Town Manager Hal Godwin. “Delaware should not look like we have no place to properly dispose of our trash, but all along our highways. Let’s clean it up!”

“We’re proud to join the Delaware Anti-Litter Alliance to raise awareness of the litter issue in Delaware and to beautify our Town,” said Cheswold Town Administrator Sam Callender.

Visit de.gov/litterfree to support the campaign and to view a full list of Alliance partners.

Last month, in partnership with Keep Delaware Beautiful, Governor Carney launched the statewide campaign, Keep DE Litter Free, to encourage Delawareans to not litter, to protect our public spaces, and respect our state’s unique natural heritage. The Governor is partnering with mayors, county executives, and advocacy organizations statewide to spread that message through the Delaware Anti-Litter Alliance – an initiative of the campaign.

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.”

“Litter has detrimental impacts to wildlife and mars our beautiful natural areas,” said Brenna Goggin, Director of Advocacy for the Delaware Nature Society. “Delaware Nature Society is proud to join Governor Carney in his efforts to reduce litter along our roadways, floating in our waterways, and blocking our stormwater drains.”

Take the pledge and join the effort to Keep DE Litter Free!

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