Litter Sweep net loads of trash -- and cleaner streets

David Irvine, Henderson (N.C.) Daily Dispatch
·2 min read

Oct. 2—HENDERSON — Community Cleanup Day in Henderson capped the two-week Fall Litter Sweep sponsored by the N.C. Department of Transportation.

In addition to cleaner streets, the results are counted in the number of pounds of litter collected. DOT reported that its crews, contractors and volunteers collected more than 10 million pounds of litter from the state's roadsides.

Of that, nearly 1.5 million pounds was collected in DOT Highway Division 5, which consists of Wake, Durham, Franklin, Person, Granville, Vance and Warren counties.

The Tri-County area contributed just under 300,000 pounds to the division's total.

The Fall Litter Sweep ran from Sept. 11 to Sept. 25. Henderson scheduled its Community Cleanup Day for Sept. 25, to cap off the Litter Sweep locally.

The local effort also picked up geographically where the state effort stopped. DOT contrentrated on state-maintained roads, while the Community Cleanup undertaking focused on local thoroughfares.

Tracey Kimbrell, executive assistant to Henderson City Manager Terrell Blackmon, said about 65 people participated in the Henderson cleanup effort, including personnel from all city departments and a number of community organizations.

Precise figures on the amount of trash collected were not available, but Kimbrell estimated the total was less than in previous years. But that's good news in a way, because "there was not as much trash as previously," she said.

Downtown Development Commission Director Tracy Madigan said she and Bonnie Strange of DDC participated. She added that members of the Henderson police and fire departments picked up trash on Garnett Street. Henderson Rotary Club members Greg Etheridge and Bob Nelson worked on the downtown side streets.

Marty Homan, a DOT spokesman, said the Fall Litter Sweep was a coordinated effort that included the Adopt-A-Highway Program with its 120,000 participants, contracted litter-removal companies, DOT forces and volunteers.

A press release by the Department of Transportation noted the success of anti-litter efforts.

"The amount of litter collected so far this year is truly staggering," said Division 5 Engineer Brandon Jones. "I'm glad our roads are looking cleaner, and I'm grateful for the community joining the effort, but the trash shouldn't be there in the first place. We need everyone to do their part — secure your load every time and never litter."