Nearly 70,000 pounds of litter was removed from聽communities聽throughout Tennessee as part of聽Tennessee Department of Transportation鈥檚 (TDOT)聽4th聽Annual聽No Trash November,聽a month-long initiative聽to ensure the state鈥檚 roadways and waterways are safe from the harmful effects of litter.听Spearheaded by TDOT鈥檚聽Nobody Trashes Tennessee聽campaign,聽No Trash November brings聽together Keep Tennessee Beautiful聽affiliates, TDOT聽Grantees,聽Adopt-A-Highway聽groups, youth groups, water groups and聽individuals聽that are working together to end littering.听All told, 2,412 volunteers participated in 175 cleanups, collecting 3,207 bags of litter, weighing 69,776 pounds.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a reason聽why Tennessee is called the volunteer state, and No Trash November affirms Tennesseans鈥� desire to come together to help keep our state clean, safe and beautiful,鈥� said Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. 鈥淭he annual initiative is an excellent example of successful collaborations between聽nonprofit organizations, volunteer groups, businesses, and state, county and city governments 鈥� all working together towards a common goal.鈥�
More than an eyesore, litter on our public roads and waterways have detrimental impacts on safety, the environment and the economy.听At any given time, there are 88 million pieces of litter on the state鈥檚 roadways. TDOT spends more than $23 million annually on litter pickup and prevention education, which is funded through dedicated revenue from Tennessee鈥檚 Soft Drink and Malt Beverage industries.
鈥淲e are grateful to the more than 2,400 Tennesseans that came together in November to help us in our mission聽to prevent and reduce litter,鈥澛爏aid聽Michael McClanahan, transportation manager, TDOT.听鈥淐ommunity cleanups and individual actions taken last month showcase what we can achieve when we work together to preserve our state鈥檚 beauty. We encourage all residents to be a part of the solution to end littering. Even small, simple actions can help, from reducing single-use plastics, to recognizing that food waste is litter, every effort counts.鈥�
New to Nobody Trashes Tennessee and No Trash November is the聽Trash Masters Rewards聽program. Participants earn points for various activities like taking a litter quiz, attending cleanup events, and spreading awareness. Points may be redeemed for a variety of rewards, including discounts at local businesses and exclusive Nobody Trashes Tennessee swag. 鈥淢ore than 1,600 people have signed up since we launched the program in October. It’s a fun and engaging way for individuals to contribute to a litter-free Tennessee while being recognized for their commitment to the environment,鈥� said McClanahan.