Anti-Litter Message for Students

UNDATED — The Texas Department of Transportation’s “Don’t Mess with Texas litter-fighting superheroes, The Litter Force, will be touring schools in East Texas this week. Hawk, Bolt, Ultra, and K-900 will teach students that throwing trash on the playground is just as bad as littering on Texas roads.

New research shows that 88 percent of Texas third-graders who’ve seen the Litter Force know Don’t Mess with Texas means don’t litter (compared with 53 percent when they were in first grade). Kids are now beating out their adult counterparts: The 2009 Litter Attitudes and Behaviors study shows that 82 percent of Texans know what Don’t Mess with Texas means. Students who see one of the 50 shows on the Litter Force’s statewide tour will receive a Litter Force activity book and are encouraged to go to http://www.dontmesswithtexas.org/litterforce to play games and learn more about the superheroes.

TxDOT, responsible for keeping roads clear of hazardous, ugly litter, is using a research-based campaign to work toward creating a litter-free generation. TxDOT wants to work with students to instill the importance of a cleaner Texas, which will lead to future savings.
In 2009 alone, TxDOT spent nearly $46 million on litter pick-up costs.

The remaining schedule for East Texas is as follows:

Tuesday, Nov. 2
• Elkhart Elementary, 8 a.m., 301 East Parker, Elkhart 75839
• Westwood Primary, 1:30 p.m., 1701 W. Point Tap Road, Palestine 75802

Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010
• Griffin Elementary, 9 a.m., 3000 N. Border, Tyler 75702
• Orr Elementary, 1:45 p.m., 3350 Pine Haven Road, Tyler 75702

Don’t Mess with Texas has been educating Texans about litter prevention since 1986. TxDOT’s litter prevention program includes Adopt-a-Highway and a grassroots partnership with Keep Texas Beautiful. Don’t Mess with Texas activities also include a spring “Trash-Off,” community outreach, a scholarship, a corporate partner program, and a new photo album where Texans can share their iconic Texas images. You can visit http://www.dontmesswithtexas.org for more information. TxDOT’s goals are to reduce congestion, enhance safety, expand economic opportunity, improve air quality, and increase the value of transportation assets. You can visit http://www.txdot.gov for more information.