Tennessee Department of Transportation鈥檚 (TDOT)聽Nobody Trashes Tennessee聽(NTT)聽litter prevention campaign is rolling out its new patch this fall for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts that conduct litter cleanups in their communities. Launched in聽2023, the patch program recognizes scouts for their efforts to help keep their communities clean and safe.聽
The new patch features Trashsquatch, the campaign鈥檚 loveable mascot that is on a mission to end littering, and is available for scouts conducting their second cleanup service project. Scouts conducting their first cleanup will receive the original Nobody Trashes Tennessee聽logo patch. 鈥淲e launched our patch program last year and it was widely received by scout groups throughout the state,鈥� said聽Brittany Morris, transportation program supervisor, TDOT.聽鈥淎s we continue to expand our youth outreach, the new Trashsquatch patch offers another incentive to those that participated in 2023, to join us once again, especially during No Trash November.鈥�
While scouts may conduct their cleanup and access educational resources all year long, the new patch is being rolled out just in time for聽No Trash November. In its fourth year, No Trash November activates Tennesseans of all ages to participate in cleanup events held in their communities.聽鈥淟ast year鈥檚 No Trash November campaign included more than 150 events with over 2,200 volunteers who collected more than 86,000 pounds of litter from the state鈥檚 roadways,鈥� said Morris. 鈥淭his year, with the help of participating scouts 鈥� and with Trashsquatch cheering them on 鈥� we aim to grow the initiative鈥檚 reach even more.鈥�
Currently, all three Girl Scout councils and all six Boy Scouts of America councils serving Tennessee have partnered with Nobody Trashes Tennessee on the litter prevention education and patch program. Additional youth service groups with patch programs are also welcome to participate. The patches are provided following the cleanups at no cost to the participating organizations or individual scouts.