Then the Department of Ecology invites teens to apply for summer jobs in the Ecology Youth Corps, which helps clean up roadsides and other public areas. The cut-off date to apply is April 1.

Youths ages 14- to 17-years-old can apply to work for a three- to four-week session with a litter cleanup crew based in King, Pierce, Clark, Grays Harbor, Lewis, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston or Whatcom counties.

EYC members earn $9.32 per hour. Crews also will learn how to better care for the environment.

Applications are available online. More information is available from area school counselors and Ecology’s website.

EYC expects to hire 237 teens for its summer crews this year, 117 of them in Western Washington. EYC is an important part of an overall Ecology-coordinated effort that each year removes more than 3,500 tons of litter and illegally dumped materials statewide.

Littering can draw fines up to $1,025. Fines for illegal dumping are $1,000 to $5,000 plus jail time.