DEPARTMENT BEGINS POSTING NOTICES OF ILLEGAL RECEPTACLES
LITTLE ROCK (6-2)
The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) recently
began posting notices on illegally placed trash receptacles, according to AHTD Director Dan
Flowers. The notices remind residents that, except for mailboxes, it is unlawful
to maintain permanent structures on state highway rights of way.
“The
notices are necessary due to increasing numbers of homemade, permanent roadside
trash receptacles across all areas of the state,” according to Flowers. “Not
only are many of these receptacles unsightly and a lot of the trash is making
its way onto the highways, but the bottom line is they are illegally placed on
highway right of way. The simple solution is to have owners comply with
established laws.”
Flowers
added that many of the offenders may not realize that it is against the law.
Owners contract with local vendors for trash removal and may not be aware of the
safety and maintenance issues involved. Highway officials have recently tried to
spread the word to trash pick up vendors, county administrators and homeowners
that the trash bins need to be removed from the highway right of way.
The notices inform residents that the AHTD will allow 30 days from that
date to comply before the structure is removed. A telephone number for that
area’s Maintenance Supervisor is on each notice and residents are urged to
call if they have questions or concerns.
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.