Super Bowl Week Message:
Don’t Trash Arizona!
50,000 Litter Bags Distributed to Visitors at Event and in Rental Cars
PHOENIX (Jan. 25, 2008) – More than 150,000 tourists are expected to converge on the Valley for Super Bowl XLII. With this exposure comes a unique opportunity to show visitors the unparalleled beauty that only Arizona offers. Proponents of the Don’t Trash Arizona! campaign hope to use the week to remind residents and visitors alike to help us maintain that beauty by keeping our roadways clean.
To promote litter-free travel among tourists throughout the Super Bowl festivities, the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is passing out more than 50,000 recyclable litter bags to travelers at the Sky Harbor Rental Car Center, 1805 East Sky Harbor Circle. The bags are designed for use in vehicles and will be distributed by MAG volunteers on Wednesday, Jan. 30 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and for a two-week period following the event in cars rented at the facility by National Car Rental, Alamo Rental Car, Dollar Rental Car and Thrifty Rental Car.
Also on hand at the Rental Car Center to welcome incoming travelers and pass out litter bags will be MAG representative Keno Hawker, mayor of Mesa.
“Arizona’s natural beauty and great weather make it an ideal choice for sporting events, and we want to keep those tourists coming back,” said Mayor Hawker. “During a week when we have not only the Super Bowl but the FBR Open bringing visitors to the Valley, we want to remind both tourists and permanent residents to take pride in our state and dispose of trash properly.”
Don’t Trash Arizona is a coordinated state and regional campaign that includes funding from MAG and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). According to research conducted by the two groups, four out of every five respondents believe that freeway litter is a problem in our state, yet 42 percent report that they are more likely to litter while driving than at any other time. The same study found that 60 percent of all littering is deliberate and comes from people throwing trash out of their window, while other littering is accidental—with 19 percent of respondents admitting that trash had fallen out of the vehicle they were driving or riding in within the prior 90 days.
“We believe the Don’t Trash Arizona program is making a difference,” said Mayor Hawker. “The Department of Public Safety recently noted a significant reduction in litter citations, and credited the program for the decrease. For the first time in years, complaint calls are at a minimum. As we continue to add lane miles and a higher volume of people to our transportation system, it is important that we remain committed to minimizing litter pickup costs,” he said.
Here are three simple steps motorists can take to reduce freeway litter: Use litterbags in your vehicle and dispose of trash properly. Secure your loads with tarps and proper tie downs. Keep your cigarette butts in the car—cigarettes contain toxic chemicals that can get into storm drains and also can cause costly wildfires.
For more information, please visit DontTrashAZ.com, or contact Kelly Taft, (602) 452-5020.
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