CONTACT: BETSY HOWIE
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Jerry Jeff Walker Unveils New Keep Texas Beautiful License Plates

AUSTIN -- Jerry Jeff Walker along with Keep Texas Beautiful and the Texas Department of Transportation have unveiled the new Keep Texas Beautiful specialty license plate. The country-singer legend, a member of the Keep Texas Beautiful Board of Governors, explained that the proceeds from the sale of the license plates will benefit litter prevention and control programs necessary for maintaining clean, healthy, safe communities that ultimately conserve and enhance Texas' unique, natural resources.

The Keep Texas Beautiful specialty license plate was created by the 75th Legislature and proceeds from the sale of the plate will support litter prevention and community beautification programs. Since 1985, KTB has been the grassroots arm of the "Don't Mess with Texas" litter prevention campaign. At the time the Texas Department of Transportation partnered with Keep Texas Beautiful, litter removal costs were rising 17% per year, and it cost taxpayers $20 million per year to pick up litter on Texas highways. Now, as a result of the "Don't Mess With Texas" campaign, volunteers are helping save taxpayers between $2 and $4 million per year in litter pick-up costs. Just as importantly, the campaign has changed public attitudes toward litter prevention.

"Keep Texas Beautiful has spent the last 31 years organizing volunteers to make Texas a better place in which to live and conduct business," said Fran Coppinger, volunteer President of Keep Texas Beautiful. "Our community and public awareness programs are experiencing wonderful success all across Texas. With the additional revenue from these license plates, we will have an even greater impact and expect to exceed past results and achievements. We are accountable, cost-efficient and dedicated to our mission of making Texas the cleanest state in the nation."

Keep Texas Beautiful, the non-profit state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, works to provide grassroots solutions to Texas solid waste and litter issues. KTB works with volunteers, elected officials, businesses and state and federal agencies to promote litter prevention, environmental public awareness and education, proper solid waste management and recycling, illegal dumping enforcement and beautification. For more information call 1-800-CLEAN-TX.