Baltimore, MD (July 23, 2008) – Mayor Sheila Dixon joined elected officials, city employees and community leaders to the launch of the City’s anti-litter campaign focused on changing negative litter behaviors of city residents. The campaign’s slogan, “Don’t make excuses, make a difference” will be displayed on city vehicles and trash receptacles.

“I want people to take pride in where they live, and make their home, yard, alley and street litter-free,” said Mayor Dixon. “A cleaner and greener city is a healthier and safer city.”

The new campaign will be featured prominently on the sides of over 130 Department of Public Works (DPW) vehicles, and 200 trash receptacles located in retail corridors and city gateways. In the coming months, messaging will be placed on hundreds of waste receptacles and other agency city vehicles. Planit Advertising oversees the planned two-year campaign which will include multi-media advertising.

Mayor Dixon has made improving the cleanliness of the city a major priority for her administration, and it was important that the city lead by example. Beginning early last year, city departments and agencies were asked to clean and maintain the streets and sidewalks around their facilities. In addition, citywide clean-up days engaged both community members and city employees to focus efforts on improving gateways leading into the city.

The Mayor’s commitment to a cleaner and greener Baltimore has resulted in a number of improvements in the city’s operations. DPW has added more than 750 public trash cans throughout the city, and is sweeping more than 1,500 miles of streets every week. The newly implemented single stream recycling, which began in January, increased collected tonnage of recyclable material 20% over this time last year. Last year, Mayor Dixon ordered Housing Code Enforcement, Health Code Enforcement and the Bureau of Solid Waste to coordinate operations to bring heavily littered areas into compliance with sanitation and health codes

“Personal responsibility does not stop at the door of your home, your office, your place of worship, or your car window,” added Mayor Dixon.