The world might be different, but it’s still illegal to litter.
According to Don’t Mess with Texas’s website you “can be fined $500 every time you litter in Texas. And, if what you toss weighs more than five pounds, you may have to pay up to $2,000.” Litter includes, but is not limited to, cigarette butts, styrofoam containers, apple core, disposable wipes, receipts, and gum wrappers.
Decreasing the amount of litter along the streets is beneficial to the environment and economy. Keep Blanco Beautiful (KBB) had to cancel the spring cleanup event, however, this should not stop citizens from participating in individual cleanups. KBB would be happy to supply trash bags, gloves, safety vests and litter grabbers; vests and grabbers need to be returned. Simply contact KBB prior to the cleanup for these supplies.
KBB encourages citizens to follow the social distancing guidelines and to wear a mask. After collecting litter, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly and dispose of your litter and disposal gloves properly.
Plogging is another great and fun way to collect litter; the definition of plogging is “a recreational activity, originating in Sweden, that combines jogging with picking up litter.” Just imagine how clean Blanco could be if everyone picked up two pieces of trash a month! If a person is unable to participate in an individual cleanup or plog, there are many other ways citizens can prevent littering.
One tip is to keep a litter bag in vehicles; this way a person can have somewhere to put their trash while in the car instead of throwing it out the window. Securing trash can and dumpster lids to prevent the trash from spilling on the ground from a gust of wind can help too. Report litterers to the confidential Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)’s Report a Litter Program at http://www.dontmesswithtexas.org/get-involved/report-a-litterer/.
Maintaining vehicle tires can prevent roadside blowouts which often result in debris all over the road. Pocket and car ashtrays can hold cigarette butts for smokers and KBB has pocket ashtrays for free if citizens need one. Lastly, encourage others to dispose of their litter properly and set the example. Let’s make and keep Blanco beautiful while staying safe!
