BATON ROUGE, La. (WNTZ) — The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) reaffirmed its commitment to combating litter across the state with a renewed push during “Love the Boot Week,” a statewide cleanup initiative organized in partnership with Keep Louisiana Beautiful.

More than 1,100 volunteers participated in the 2025 campaign, helping to remove approximately 720 cubic yards of litter—the equivalent of 45 large dump trucks—from roadways and public spaces statewide.

While “Love the Boot Week” focuses on community involvement, DOTD officials emphasized that the agency’s efforts extend well beyond the annual campaign. In fiscal year 2024, DOTD allocated $13.6 million toward litter removal, collecting a volume of trash equal to more than 18 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

An additional $3 million in state funding has recently been earmarked to expand the initiative, allowing contracted cleanup crews to target major traffic corridors and prepare for high-profile events.

In the lead-up to the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans, nearly 900 cubic yards of debris were cleared from urban routes. Current operations are focused on interstates including I-10, I-12, I-20, I-110, and I-610, with plans to expand cleanup coverage to rural highways later this year.

“This substantial investment reflects our continued commitment to cleaner, safer, and more beautiful roadways,” said Todd Donmyer, DOTD Assistant Secretary of Operations. “However, we also urge the public to consider what else these funds could support if littering wasn’t such a costly issue.”

DOTD encourages residents to take personal responsibility for litter prevention and to participate in local cleanup events. More information about the campaign and volunteer opportunities can be found at www.keeplouisianabeautiful.org.