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Other than left-lane campers and bad mergers, few things are more disappointing behind the wheel than watching someone toss garbage out of their car.

For a state that considers itself so green and environmentally forward, we do a terrible job with littering. The Department of Ecology estimates that 38 million pounds of trash ends up on the sides of our roads every year鈥攖hat鈥檚 42% above the national average. A lot of that is dumped there on purpose. suggested that 25% of Washington residents admit to routinely throwing trash out the window.

Who are these people? Who still does this?

Litter not only makes our roads look bad, but it can also be dangerous.

Littering persists despite Washington鈥檚 green goals

Forty percent of and this stuff is really dangerous鈥攃oolers, lumber, household garbage. I鈥檓 sure we鈥檝e all had to swerve into another lane to avoid something flying out of a car in front of us. Another significant source is that quarter of people who just toss cigarette butts, cans, cups, or bags out the window. You might be surprised how many people simply dump their household garbage on the side of the road, or at park-and-rides and rest areas.

It costs the state about $12 million every year to pick up as much trash as it can. That cleanup effort takes state workers away from other important road work, like maintenance and fixing potholes.

WSDOT reports that more than 1,000 tons of trash were picked up last year鈥攖hat’s two million pounds of garbage. That includes more than 300 tons removed from or near homeless encampments.

It鈥檚 a good reminder to keep a small bag in your car and throw everything away when you gas up or get home. There鈥檚 no excuse for tossing anything out of your window鈥攁nd no excuse for failing to secure your load.