Farmer urges commissioners to address roadside litter he blames on trash haulers

Peter Rudolph, a resident of 1344 East Degonia Road, told the Warrick County Commissioners on April 27 he and his family repeatedly find plastic bags, wrapping paper and other trash blowing into farm fields along Elko Highway.

Rudolph said the material often appears to be packaging from retail stores and that unsecured loads from trash haulers appear to be a source. He described the operational impact on harvests, saying that plastic bags can jam harvesting equipment and cause delays.

Rudolph asked the commissioners to work with the haulers operating in Warrick County to secure tarps and reduce speeds to keep material from blowing off trucks. Commissioners and staff said they would first consult Jeff Daily and Solid Waste to determine whether the county has enforcement authority under existing ordinances and whether conversations with haulers could address the problem.

A commissioner said if Solid Waste finds no enforcement authority, the board would consider options and asked staff to follow up. The meeting record shows the commissioners encouraged conversations with haulers first and offered to investigate legal or ordinance-based remedies if necessary.