Local middle and high school students will return to Washington roadsides this summer to clean up litter tossed or dropped by motorists.

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology), which operates the litter program, urges motorists to use extra caution when they see the orange “Ecology youth working” signs along state highways.

“Safety is our No. 1 priority,” said Steven Williams, regional litter administrator and coordinator for the Ecology Youth Corps (EYC). “Every driver needs to stay alert when passing a litter crew. For most crew members, it’s their first job. We’re proud of their work to help keep our roadways litter-free.”

Teens, ages 14 to 17, will work this summer along roadsides in King, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties. In 2012, EYC crews cleaned 6,372 miles of roadways, picked up 1,156,782 pounds of litter and recycled 142,825 pounds of materials. In King County alone, crews picked up more than 48,987 pounds of litter.

The program attracted 843 applications from young people interested in the 75 EYC summer crew jobs administered by Ecology’s Bellevue office.This summer, Ecology’s regional office in Bellevue will have 13 six-person crews working in five counties. Six crews will work during the first session and seven during the second.

Crew members receive $9.19 an hour, the state’s minimum wage, and work 7.5 hours a day, Monday through Friday. Crews will operate this year in two sessions – June 26 through July 24 and July 25 through Aug. 20.

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