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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This concurrent resolution addresses littering in Utah and encourages the creation of a
11 statewide, long-term anti-littering campaign.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 ▸ recognizes the impact that littering has on our communities and environment;
15 ▸ addresses the benefits to implementing a statewide, long-term anti-littering campaign;
16 ▸ recognizes the opportunity to inform manufacturers, distributors, packagers, and
17 retailers on ways they can help prevent littering; and
18 ▸ encourages the Department of Transportation, Department of Natural Resources,
19 Department of Environmental Quality, the Jordan River Commission, the Utah
20 Association of Counties, and the Utah League of Cities and Towns to work with area
21 experts and interested stakeholders to explore the creation of a statewide, long-term
22 anti-littering campaign.
23 Special Clauses:
24 None
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26 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
27 WHEREAS, Utah is universally recognized as a place rich in natural scenic beauty, with
28 wetlands, forests, and alpine and desert biomes;
29 WHEREAS, Utah is home to over three million residents and more than 600 species of
30 mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians, and annually hosts millions of visitors, all of
31 whom would benefit from renewed dedication to the cleanliness of our lands and waterways;
32 WHEREAS, trash, from plastic and paper cups, drink bottles and cans, snack wrappers,
33 straws, plastic shopping bags, and other consumer waste line many of our streets and highways,
34 lakes and rivers, and is scattered across parks, open spaces, and private properties creating
35 visual blight, habitat disruption, and other harmful effects on humans, domestic animals, and
36 wildlife;
37 WHEREAS, trash on the streets can clog storm water drains, exacerbate street flooding
38 during storm events, choke waterways, and create other harmful impacts and pollution in rivers
39 and lakes;
40 WHEREAS, the approximate annual cost to clean up litter on state highways in Utah has
41 increased each year between 2016 and 2020 with the costs for 2020 being in excess of $2.5
42 million and these costs do not include similar costs for local highways and will likely continue
43 to increase as the population in Utah increases if Utah does not pursue active measures to
44 address littering;
45 WHEREAS, the Division of Wildlife Resources has found that littering on public lands
46 is becoming a problem;
47 WHEREAS, the environmental cleanup of litter, once it has entered the storm water
48 system, is far more costly than the preventive efforts through civic engagement and public
49 awareness campaigns;
50 WHEREAS, a long-term anti-litter campaign provides a meaningful opportunity to clean
51 up Utah's land and water;
52 WHEREAS, Utah has not had a coordinated anti-littering campaign since the 1990s - the
53 "Don't Waste Utah" campaign;
54 WHEREAS, over the 30 continuous years since its launch, the "Don't Mess With Texas"
55 anti-litter campaign has become an iconic expression of community and culture with signs
56 dotting the highways and byways of the state, with friendly community "Trash-Off" clean up
57 competitions across the state, and with businesses proudly brandishing the "Don't Mess With
58 Texas" brand alongside their own;
59 WHEREAS, for the past four decades, New Mexico's anti-litter campaign, "Toss No
60 Mas," has evolved through local and regional movements in many New Mexico communities to
61 receive statewide support for the initiative;
62 WHEREAS, working unitedly for a clean environment is a solution in which every
63 resident and visitor to Utah can participate;
64 WHEREAS, the impacts of litter particularly are not just about cleanliness and
65 beautification, but have an important environmental effect as well;
66 WHEREAS, there is tremendous opportunity to work in partnership with manufacturers,
67 distributors, packagers, and retailers to address the sources of much of our litter, exploring
68 innovative and creative ways to reduce single-use disposable packaging and containers; and
69 WHEREAS, a long-term anti-littering campaign will increase pride in Utah by
70 encouraging residents and visitors to be mindful of litter and its effects:
71 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
72 Governor concurring therein, encourages the Department of Transportation, Department of
73 Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Quality, the Jordan River Commission, the
74 Utah Association of Counties, and the Utah League of Cities and Towns to work with area
75 experts and interested stakeholders to explore the creation of a statewide, long-term anti-littering
76 campaign that addresses littering by residents and visitors and the negative impact that littering
77 has on our environment, communities, and health.
78 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Department of
79 Transportation, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Environmental Quality,
80 the Jordan River Commission, the Utah Association of Counties, and the Utah League of Cities
81 and Towns.