Letter: Litter is 'a major concern' in Columbus neighborhoods. What's being done?
What's being done about litter
Re Letter to the editor “I am ashamed to live in this pigsty” by Jerome N. Smith April 2: While many of the roadways that Jerome Smith refers to, like highways, are not in the city’s jurisdiction, litter is a major concern in our neighborhoods.
Letters: I am ashamed to live in this pigsty
It is one of the few problems in our society that is completely solvable. Littering is a choice by individuals that impacts all of us. It looks terrible, takes time and resources to clean up, and it harms our environment by polluting our waterways.
There are an estimated 52 pieces of litter for every person in our country according to the Keep America Beautiful National Litter Study.
That’s a lot of trash and is completely unacceptable.
That’s why last year, the city’s Keep Columbus Beautiful program supported 10,104 volunteer cleanups that resulted in getting 292,582 pounds of litter off our streets. The amount of litter isn’t something to brag about, but the dedication and efforts of these hardworking residents who spent 39,366 hours volunteering is worth congratulating.
More: Springlike weather has sprung, and so has the litter in Columbus area
The city of Columbus has also invested in Solid Waste Investigators that combat illegal dumping and hold those who trash our public spaces accountable. In 2022, our investigators helped prosecute 29 people, had over 40 civil violations filed, and continue to pursue leads to keep our streets and alleys clean.
In the recent city budget, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther has committed to fighting litter and illegal dumping. This funding will expand the number of investigators, open two new Waste and Reuse Convenience Centers that will create a new place to drop off waste materials and hire dedicated staff to help collect even more litter in our public rights of way.
We can make a difference and keep Columbus beautiful by educating our friends, neighbors, and family members on the importance of properly disposing of our waste, and by signing up to join a cleanup in our neighborhoods.
More: 'Wolverine' of waste: On the ground with Columbus' senior trash sleuth
The upcoming 2023 Columbus Litter League season is one way to participate in cleanups and volunteer for the common good of our community.
Follow the Department of Public Service and Keep Columbus Beautiful on social media for more details soon on Litter League registration. Last season, 31 teams volunteered their time from June through August to clean up more than 77,000 pounds of litter. We encourage residents to be a team player and join the friendly competition to make a difference.
Sincerely,
Tim Swauger, Division of Refuse Collection administrator, Columbus Department of Public Service
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letter: What is done about litter in Columbus neighborhoods?
