By Julie Thibodeaux     

If you see someone throwing trash out the car window, there’s now an easy way to report it thanks to a new mobile phone app.

The “Report-a-Litterer” application was created by the Texas Department of Transportation as part of its “Don’t Mess with Texas” anti-littering campaign. 

The littering prevention program, launched in 1986, is famous for its TV ads featuring Texas celebrities. Famous Texans like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Willie Nelson, and Matthew McConaughey have all been featured in the campaign promoting the message that it’s cool to keep Texas clean. For more than two decades, in fact, the slogan has appeared on road signs, key chains and coffee mugs. As a result, a 2009 study showed that children who grew up learning the 'Don’t Mess With Texas' motto were less likely to become litterers. 

“In 2006, it was voted one of the most popular ad campaigns in the U.S,” said Val Lopez, public information officer for TxDot. “Our focus is on preventing litter before it happens.”

While the campaign has been an effective education tool, littering still persists in Texas. A 2009 study estimated more than 1 billion items are discarded on highways across the state annually, and TxDOT spends about $46 million a year to clean it up. The most common type of refuse found is cigarette butts, which with cigar butts, accounts for 40 percent of the litter found on all types of highways, from interstates to farm-to-market roads.  

Cigarette butts pose multiple problems. Not only are they not biodegradable, they’re a challenge to collect once tossed and a hazard to wildlife who eat them. They also contribute to wildfires. The Texas Forest Service says that about 2 percent of wildfires reported to TFS since 2004 were started by discarded cigarettes.

And while offenders can be fined up to $500, it’s hard to catch them in the act. Drivers won’t typically toss trash in front of a marked law enforcement vehicle. So in 1994, TxDot introduced its Report-a-Litterer program to engage the help of citizens. The program started with a dedicated phone line and evolved into a web page where litterers could be reported anonymously.  

Last month, to keep up with technology, the department introduced its new smart phone app to make reporting litterers even easier.

The app is simple to use. After downloading, simply select from a menu what type of litter was seen. The program will automatically record the date, time and location using a GPS tracking system. The information will be added to a live map, which shows other reports throughout Texas. TxDot will use the information to track littering patterns. The app also allows the user to voice record the license plate number, which can be manually reported later on the Don’t Mess with Texas website.

According to Lopez, the Report-a-Litterer program has been successful, with about 1,500 incidents reported each month. However, Lopez said the program is not intended to penalize, but simply to educate. Drivers are identified through a database and mailed a letter along with a trash bag.

“They get a friendly reminder,” said Lopez. “We’re just trying to remind people to keep our roadways clean.”

For more information, see dontmesswithtexas.org

Julie Thibodeaux is a Fort Worth-based writer covering environmental issues, green topics and sustainable living. Previously, she worked as an editor and writer at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Contact her at julie@jthibodeaux.com.