Homemade Trash Bins Causing Litter Problem, Commission Hears
Last updated Wednesday, November 19, 2008 8:20 PM CST in News
By Rob Moritz
THE MORNING NEWS
LITTLE ROCK -- Homemade trash bins are contributing to a litter problem along state highways in rural Arkansas, particularly in southern parts of the state, the Arkansas Highway Commission heard Wednesday.
Responding to a report by the state Department of Highway and Transportation it spends nearly $5.6 million annually picking up trash, commissioners voted to notify residents if they don't remove their wooden or metal trash bins from the curb they will be destroyed.
"Our recommendation is that (residents) use roll-out trash bins, and then they can pull those back later in the day or the next day," said Ralph Hall, assistant director of the department.
Hall told commissioners he and director Dan Flowers recently met with the representatives from the County Judges Association and the Arkansas Municipal League to discuss the litter problem.
The problem is an unintended consequence of the Legislature's creation in the 1990s of regional solid waste districts, Hall said. Part of that program required counties within the districts to offer trash pickup services.
"Some have lids and wire and some of them have metal frames," he said. "They build them to keep animals, dogs and things from getting into the trash. ... They've become permanent features out on the state highways."
Many of the smaller trash pickup companies, rather than offer plastic bins to customers, build or install wooden trash bins at the side of the road, he said.
Hall said highway department employees will begin placing stickers on the bins informing residents that they have 30 days to move the containers or they will be destroyed.
Also during the meeting, Hall updated the commission on a litter pickup program developed by the department. Under the program, county jail inmates facing misdemeanor charges or serving time for nonviolent crimes would pick up litter along state roadways.
Participating counties are paid $2 for every hour an inmate picks up litter.
Hall said 15 counties across the state now are participating in the program.
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