The citizens of Baltimore have spoken. They are tired of the trash from litterers flowing into Baltimore’s waterways. Baltimore’s Department of Public Works (DPW) heard the call and recently installed five storm drain trash catchers around town to snag litter before it goes down the storm drains and into the city’s waterways.

“When people litter, most of it goes down our storm drains and winds up in the water –soda bottles and cans, McDonald’s burger containers, you name it,” said DPW Director Alfred H. Foxx. “The installation of these types of devices is a part of our ongoing effort to address trash removal in both the northwest branch (Inner Harbor) and the middle branch of the Patapsco River.”

The storm drain trash catcher (also called a catch basin) is an inlet to the system that typically includes a grate where stormwater enters the catch basin, and a sump to capture debris and other associated pollutants. When it rains: a retractable screen on the drain opens; a second screen inside the drain captures the trash where DPW’s maintenance workers vacuum. Baltimore was selected by the California contractor West Cost Storms, Inc. — who provided the labor and materials for the installation at no cost — as a site for product testing.

At the Fayette and Port streets location, DPW’s partner Blue Water Baltimore recently joined community members, BANNER neighborhood's Leanna Wetmore and street artist Adam Stab to decorate the storm drain trash catcher with some original artwork: a Maryland crab.

Facts about Litter: According to Keep America Beautiful 2009 National Litter and Cost Survey:
• Litter cleanup costs the U.S. almost $11.5 billion each year, with businesses paying $9.1 billion. Governments, schools, and other organizations pick up the remainder.
• The presence of litter in a community takes a toll on the quality of life, property values and housing prices by 7 percent.
• Confection (candy, gum, etc.) ranks at the top by 53.7 percent followed by cigarette butts at 29.8 percent as litter dropped at “transition points” or where items must be discarded before entering, including in storm drains.
For more information about DPW’s new storm drain trash catchers, please call 410.545.6541.