Prince William Public Works Department Continues Litter Control Efforts

The Department of Public Works recently presented an update to the Board of County Supervisors highlighting the success of ongoing efforts to keep county roadways clean. In Fiscal Year 2024, litter crews removed 158,610 pounds of trash from county roads. In Fiscal Year 2025, which runs through June 30, 2025, crews have cleared an additional 24,520 pounds of trash between July 1 and September 5.  

The primary goal of the Prince William County Public Works Department's litter crews is to keep primary roads in the county free of trash and debris. To address growing concerns about litter, the Board has funded two additional litter crews over the last two years. 

When asked about the addition of staff to the litter crew, Public Works Director Khattab Shammout said, “Our litter crews play a crucial role in keeping county roads clean and inviting for residents, businesses and visitors. With the expansion of our resources, we look forward to enhancing the appearance of our community.”  

To optimize litter collection, crews adhere to a collection schedule to ensure that a high volume of roads across the county are cleaned regularly. In addition, the Department of Public Works supports community-led clean-up events and collaborates with other county departments and local organizations to promote a shared sense of responsibility for maintaining the county's environment.   

Also, as part of its ongoing efforts to address litter, the county also started a public awareness campaign using the mischievous “Trashy the Raccoon,” to help educate community members about the environmental impact of litter and how to reduce litter in the community. Through videos, social media graphics and other material, Trashy is shown causing playful havoc across the community, with the tagline: “I’m a raccoon. What’s your excuse?” 

“We wanted to catch people’s attention in a creative, yet educational way,” said Nikki Brown, the county’s Director of Communications and Engagement. “Trashy the Raccoon isn’t your typical character, and it’s a great way for us to engage our community – at all age levels – to get our message across, which is don’t be Trashy; help us take care of the community by throwing away litter appropriately.” 

For more information about the county’s litter control and beautification efforts, visit pwcva.gov/publicworks.