Jackson County Board of Commissioners are concerned about the level of litter on the county roads and are pleading the public to keep it clean.
Brian McMahan, The Jackson County Board Chair said during the Feb 2. meeting, “the trash along our highways is at a horrible level right now. I don’t know that I have ever seen it this bad.”
McMahan explained that some of this came from a concerned resident who had contacted him who had to pick up multiple bags worth of trash close to her driveway which is off a state road. McMahan added that despite the Commissioner Gayle Woody’s anti-litter campaign the citizens of Jackson County continue to litter across the highways. See the recording of the Commissioners meeting from Feb. 2.
Jackson County Police Chief, Chris Hatton, also pleaded with the public in his late January letter posted on The Facebook page of the Sylva Herald saying: “We have been having some issues with people dumping trash in a particular spot on the side of Rhodes Cove Road. My understanding is that this has been happening off and on for many years.”
McMahan then mentioned that the counties annual roadside pickup “Cleaning Up the Mountains” is coming up soon as the change of seasons approaches. As well as explaining how this event could be a potential turning of the new leaf in attempts to “combat” this issue and “encourage” others to do so as well.
Commissioner Woody said via email that “Initially, we had a very positive response [to the anti-litter campaign.] We offered individuals and businesses the opportunity to become “Partners” by donating $100. We then used this money to advertise our efforts. Using our logo and mission “Keep Jackson County Clean and Green” has encouraged folks to pick up along their community roads.”
Commissioner Woody also believes there is a common pattern in Jackson County’s littering issue.
“I think lots of the trash blows out of the back of pickup trucks. Westley Grindstaff from Department of Transportation research validates this concern. He says 80% of highway litter comes from the back of pickups. Also, we see less litter thrown out on roads that are regularly picked up. If folks see litter already there, they tend to add more too it and vice versa, ” explained Woody in an email message.
Woody also believes that “Cleaning Up the Mountains” is a great opportunity to reignite the anti-litter efforts that were incredibly prevalent before the COVID-19 outbreak.
“We were heading full steam ahead with our task force when COVID hit. We were identifying groups that were already picking up litter, and some who wanted to begin. We are planning to re-advertise this spring, encouraging folks to choose an area in their community and keep it clean. Our Task Force was meeting monthly but had not done so since March. We hope to meet soon.”
Cleaning Up the Mountains will potentially be approached more thoroughly this year than in previous years by the Jackson County Board of Commissioners based on the mutual agreement among Jackson County government officials. Cleaning up the Mountains is set to take place in the middle of April. We will continue covering this issue.
