The Director of the Department of Ecology is appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the State Senate.

[4] Ecology has its headquarters office in Lacey, Washington, near Olympia and abutting the campus of St. Martin's University.

In addition, it has smaller field offices in Bellingham, Twisp, Richland,[5] Vancouver, Washington and Wenatchee.

Established in 1975, the program is tasked with cleaning litter on state highways and pays hired teenagers a minimum wage.

The program ended on December 31, 2019, following a 14-year phase-out approved by the state legislature in 2005 as air quality in Washington cities had improved to above federal standards.