EVERETT– After a one-season hiatus due to budget and staffing difficulties, the Snohomish County Litter Wranglers will soon head out onto county roads to help rustle up garbage and other debris that’s been carelessly discarded by passersby. With a population of more than 870,000 residents and countless visitors, it takes a concerted effort to help ensure our county’s infrastructure is not decorated with trash.
“We live in a beautiful part of the world, and it takes everyone pitching in to keep it that way,” said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “Our dedicated Litter Wranglers teams play a crucial role in maintaining our county’s natural resources and contribute to our shared high quality of life.”
The Litter Wranglers is comprised of seasonal workers. The program will field two six-person teams this season that starts in April and concludes in October. Snohomish County Solid Waste did not field a dedicated litter control crew in 2025 due to funding and staffing challenges. From 2017-2024, team members collected more than 31,000 bags of garbage and other debris from a combined 4,000 miles of roadsides. There are 1,600 road miles in the unincorporated area of Snohomish County.
“We’re so appreciative of our solid waste employees in the Litter Wrangler program,” said Snohomish County Public Works Director Kelly Snyder. “Their hard work throughout the season should be noticed by everyone because they make a difference. They are an important, and popular, part of keeping our county litter-free.”
A partnership between the Litter Wranglers and residents helps to guide the program. Calls and emails from the public reporting litter sites from around the county are passed to the team. The information is then compiled, and sites are grouped together to collect the bagged litter as efficiently as possible. The system maximizes the crew’s work on the road to get the most out of their time.
Report a litter location by:
- Emailing: contact.pwrm@co.snohomish.wa.us
- Calling: 425-388-7500
Keeping the county right of way clean is an ongoing effort, and the Litter Wranglers are just a part of an overall strategy. With continued strains on the county’s budget, it’s more important than ever that everyone be a litter wrangler by doing their part to ensure that trash doesn’t find its way onto roadsides in the first place. The public can also join the county’s growing Adopt-A-Road program and claim a section of roadway to keep clean.
“Adopt-A-Road is another successful program that reflects our shared values,” Snyder said. “Currently, 50 groups are stewarding 59 sections of county roads. Their partnership is invaluable to having a county of which we can all be proud.”
Visit the following webpages for more information about Litter Wranglers and Adopt-A-Road:
About Snohomish County Public Works
Snohomish County Public Works is responsible for approximately 1,600 miles of county roads, more than 200 bridges, and manages in excess of 200 traffic control signals. The department also processes nearly 820,000 tons of garbage per year. Its mission is to focus on safety and mobility while practicing fiscal responsibility and preserving the environment. Public Works has won numerous state and national honors for its work and is the second-largest department within Snohomish County government with approximately 500 employees plus seasonal staff. Its main office is located at 3000 Rockefeller Ave, Everett, WA 98201.
Visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/PublicWorks or follow the department on Facebook, Instagram, and X for more information about Snohomish County Public Works.
Source: Snohomish County Public Works
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
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