Since early 2007, more than 1,000 trash dumping complaints have been processed in Logan County, and more than 40 percent of those complaints have been filed in the last two years, officials from the Logan County Solid Waste Management District report.
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Logan County Litter Prevention Team members clean up Township Road 56 during a recent pick-up effort. Statewide roadside clean-up yields 400,000 bags of trash COLUMBUS — Last year, the Ohio Department of Transportation, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers and inmates collected nearly 400,000 bags of trash from Ohio’s roadways, according to a statement issued today by ODOT. That’s 10 bags of trash for every lane mile of state, U.S. and interstate routes in Ohio. “Litter is a persistent and preventable problem,” ODOT Director Jerry Wray said. “Not only is it expensive to pick up, but it takes us away from more important work, like pothole patching, culvert replacements and guardrail repairs.” Statewide last year, ODOT spent more than $4 million picking up trash. That money could have been used to purchase 28 new snow plow trucks or pave a 28-mile, two-lane road. ODOT’s 1,500 Adopt-A-Highway groups clean a two-mile section of highway, or an interchange, a minimum of four times a year for two years. On average, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers pick up 25,000 bags of trash, saving ODOT $280,000. Groups wanting to adopt a section of highway or an interchange can apply at: transportation.ohio.gov/litter. This spring, ODOT crews and volunteers will pick up litter in conjunction with the Great American Cleanup. This nationwide event brings together more than 2.5 million people who spend 8 million hours cleaning, beautifying, and improving 15,000 communities.
Logan County Litter Prevention Team members include, from the left, Bellefontaine Code Enforcement Officer Wes Dodds, Logan County Solid Waste Management District Coordinator Angel Payne, and Logan County Sheriff’s Deputy Adam Wood. |
In celebration of Earth Day today, the LCSWMD is spotlighting the Logan County Litter Prevention Team, which has a combined goal of educating, preventing and enforcing litter offenses in the county.
The Litter Prevention Team is a collaboration between local law enforcement and the Logan County Solid Waste Management District with special assistance from other agencies on a case-by-case basis. Logan County Sheriff’s Deputy Adam Wood is the current head of the program, and he is the eighth deputy to serve in that capacity.
There is also a joint cooperative effort coordinating litter complaints with the new Bellefontaine City Code Enforcement Officer, Wes Dodds.
Officials report the team recently completed a roadside clean-up detail near Wal-Mart Supercenter in Bellefontaine that resulted in more than 200 pounds of trash collected.
So far this year, five individuals have been charged with numerous offenses in regard to trash dumping complaints, including criminal mischief, trespassing and littering on state, private and public properties.
“These numbers show a great need in our community for litter prevention and enforcement,” Deputy Wood said in a release.
The Logan County Solid Waste Management District takes trash dumping complaints very seriously, encouraging residents to report dumping instead of cleaning it up themselves. District Coordinator Angel Payne, who has organized litter collection activities for more than 24 years, emphasizes the necessity of reporting complaints because it gives investigators the opportunity to identify possible suspects.
Although much of the litter collected is single-use plastic bags from area vendors within village and city limits, Deputy Wood investigates incidents of illegal dumping of trash and discarded furniture within rural county areas as well.
Incarcerated inmates from the Logan County Jail also assist with roadside clean-up details whenever possible, the deputy said.
“The inmates really enjoy it. They prefer being outside instead of inside the jail, plus it’s good that we are helping the community.”
The Litter Prevention Team will continue roadside “problem area” clean-ups, and investigations throughout the summer. To report trash dumping or litter complaints, contact the Litter Prevention Office at 292-7591.