Caldwell County forms roadside litter committee, schedules volunteer cleanup May 30

Caldwell County officials announced April 27 the formation of a roadside litter committee that will bring together county staff, the school system, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Republic Waste and community volunteers to coordinate litter cleanup and prevention.

Commissioner Donnie Potter, one of the committee members, described the approach as grassroots and educational: "The thought process I think is to try to get...bring more awareness around the problem...we have to get back to the grassroots and have to work on, you know, educating the public," he said, adding the committee will solicit community input and examine enforcement options and technological tools to identify repeat littering offenders.

Staff told the board that the county’s Gold Star contract for roadside pickup is budgeted at about $70,000 per year and is funded by landfill revenues; county staff estimated Gold Star picks up roughly 20 tons annually and NCDOT has removed about 10 tons so far this year within Caldwell County. Officials also announced an employee pickup on May 21 and a public volunteer cleanup coordinated by Soil and Water Conservation on Saturday, May 30.

County leaders said enforcement changes at the state level, including higher fines for commercial trucks that do not cover loads, are expected and that the committee will consider outreach, education and enforcement together to reduce recurring trash issues along county roads.

Speakers quoted in this article are Commissioner Donnie Potter and county staff at the April 27 meeting.