HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT ADDRESSES
TRASH PICK UP PROBLEM
LITTLE ROCK (5-11)
Litter on
An
increase in homemade, permanent roadside trash receptacles is a contributor to
trash making its way onto the highways and is unsightly on many roadsides
throughout the state.
“The
problem is increasing all across the state and we need some help to stop this
practice,” said Flowers. “Many of these roadside trash bins are playgrounds
for animals, resulting in trash scattered along the roadsides.”
“We
have met with officials from the
A
solution to this problem is to have owners of the trash receptacles comply with
established laws that prohibit encroachments, like the permanently placed trash
bins, from being placed within highway rights of way.
According
to Flowers, most of the owners of these encroaching receptacles may not realize
that it is against the law. The owners contract with local vendors for trash
removal and are just not aware of the safety and maintenance issues. Highway
officials hope to spread the word to trash pick up vendors and homeowners, and
request that the trash bins be removed from the highway right of way.
The AHTD will soon begin placing notices on the illegal trash bins and
the owners will have 30 days to remove the bins before they are removed by AHTD
employees.
The AHTD spends approximately $5 million per year on expenses related to
litter pick up and coordinates several anti-litter activities, including the
Adopt-A-Highway Program, the Jail Inmate Litter Pick-up Program, the Parolee
Litter Pick-up Program and the Litter Hot Line reporting system.
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