Pelican State News

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) continues its litter collection initiatives across the state, using Love the Boot Week as a focal point for these efforts. As a collaborator with Keep Louisiana Beautiful and statewide partners, DOTD personnel are engaged in removing litter through April 5-13. This effort is part of a broader year-round initiative, with DOTD having allocated around $13.6 million for litter removal in fiscal year 2024, clearing more than 18 Olympic swimming pools worth of waste.

“DOTD spends more than $13 million annually removing other people’s trash from state roadways,” stated DOTD Assistant Secretary of Operations, Todd Donmyer. “This is tax money that could be used to repave more than 100 miles of state roadways. Because litter is 100 percent preventable, it’s very frustrating to spend time and money picking up litter in a particular location and have litter quickly regenerate in the same location.”

With a supplemental $3 million from the state legislature, DOTD has contracted additional litter removal services, focusing initially on high-traffic areas. This program started in the New Orleans area, where nearly 900 cubic yards of litter were removed before the Super Bowl. The effort, now extending to major interstates like I-10, I-12, I-20, I-110, and I-610, will eventually spread to densely populated rural areas by year-end.

Residents are urged to support these initiatives by properly disposing of waste and joining local cleanup activities. Additional participation details can be found at www.keeplouisianabeautiful.org, and updates on DOTD’s efforts are available on their social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and X.