Louisiana residents are being encouraged to call a litter hotline to report trash being thrown out of a car, or rubbish flying out of the back of someone’s truck. Susan Russell with Keep Louisiana Beautiful says this is a way for citizens to make a diiference. “Use this number and call and report them. We’re really hoping that this will take hold and give people a tool to do something about the litter problem.”
It's all part of a public awareness campaign to utilize the anti-litter hotline, through the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, to report potential littering violations, including dumpsites and littering: 888.LITRBUG (1-888-548-7284).
In a report by the Louisiana Radio Network (LRN), Russell said a caller should give the violator’s license tag number, make and model of the vehicle, along with the location of the incident. Then, the new information will be routed to the appropriate enforcement agent. “We will issue a warning letter. And then possibly there will be a citation depending on if we were able to capture the correct information.”
To report hazardous chemical releases, air/water pollution, leaks and runoff as well as toxic environmental accidents and complaints, call the Louisiana State Police ((LSP) Hazardous Materials Hotline at 225-925-6595 or 1-877-925-6595.
If you come across chemical spills, releases or odors from things like paints, pesticides, oil, antifreeze, etc. as well as mass fish kills and burning tires, call the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) Single Point of Contact (SPOC) at 225-219-3640 or Toll Free 1-888-763-5424. Russell says the state spends $94-million every year to tackle the litter problem. There’s an estimated 144-million pieces of trash on Louisiana roadways.
