What We Do and Why We Do It

Litter and graffiti are public nuisances and cost the District and its residents more than just money. Litter diminishes the beauty of the nation’s capital and piles of litter attract rats and other pests. Trash thrown or blown from trucks and cars can lead to injuries, even death, as motorists swerve to avoid it.

Graffiti tarnishes the appearance of our neighborhoods. Gang-related graffiti can threaten violence or identify turf boundaries.

DPW tolerates neither litter nor graffiti. In 2008, DPW began its unique litter and graffiti prevention program, Not in OUR DC! Pledge to Keep the Capital Clean. The program targets youth, ages 13 to 19, and provides them with tools to become “agents of change” in their families, neighborhoods and schools where they walk the talk of keeping the District clean and beautiful. In a 30-minute video documentary and 10 two-minute video vignettes, District youth and adults inspire viewers with their stories of commitment to clean DC. To see the videos and download the resource and implementation guides, go to Not in Our DC. All items are in English and Spanish.

To help maintain the beauty of our commercial corridors with high-volume pedestrian traffic, DPW installs litter cans for pedestrians and motorists to use rather than leaving their trash on the streets. Litter cans are emptied at night anywhere from daily to three times per week, based on how much trash they receive. The partnership between DPW and the business improvement districts (BIDs) creates a cleaner DC. When the litter cans in the BID areas are full, the BID personnel empty the cans and DPW collects the bags. Residents may request installation of a new litter can by calling the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center at 311. Bus stops and locations in commercial areas on major streets are the best locations for new cans. Because of the nighttime collection schedule (between 10 pm and 4 am), cans usually are not placed in residential neighborhoods so residents are not awakened.

 

DPW is conducting two limited-duration public space recycling pilot projects. Pedestrians and motorists in downtown DC and on Capitol Hill can recycle their metal, glass and plastic food and beverage containers along with their newspapers by using the street recycling cans in those areas. DPW is working in partnership with the Downtown DC and Capitol Hill Business Improvement Districts to provide this service. DPW provides residential and business property owners with two free options to remove graffiti themselves. The Graffiti Removal Voucher Program issues a voucher to property owners that may be redeemed at several local paint stores. Call 311 to obtain a voucher. The paint store will match the color of the paint of the property. The voucher will provide property owners with paint, primer, a brush, roller, pan, drop cloth and graffiti scrubs free of charge.

Property owners who want to remove the graffiti using a non-toxic solvent should call 311 and ask for a graffiti removal kit, which will be delivered to the owner’s residence or business. The solvent is applied and sprayed off with a garden hose. There are two separate solvent formulas, one for bare brick and masonry, and a separate formula for sensitive surfaces. The solvents do not contain phosphates, chlorinated hydrocarbons, Xylene or any other products known to cause health or disposal problems for graffiti removal technicians. They are 100 percent biodegradable and meet US Environmental Protection Agency standards.

DPW will clean graffiti from public and private property using paint or non-toxic solutions that are applied then removed with a high-pressure water spray, known as a power wash. The power wash is not suitable for walls with loose or crumbling masonry. Call 311 to request either of these services. A waiver of liability form will be provided, which must be signed by the property owner and returned to DPW before abatement will occur on private property. You can download the Graffiti Removal Wavier.