After a call to action from Judge-Executive Gary Moore, Boone County residents are picking up what’s been thrown down: litter.
At a recent Boone County Fiscal Court meeting, Moore said he has noticed more roadside litter in the community. He said inmate work crews haven’t been operating on their normal cleanup schedule during the pandemic, and it’s too early for mowing crews, who clean up the area before cutting the grass. He asked residents to “do better,” and to keep the trash off the ground.
Now, groups are working to make Boone County litter-free. Boone County Solid Waste offers a Trash for Cash incentive to nonprofit groups, paying them $100 per mile of litter collected. Boone County Solid Waste is also hosting a student contest for a new anti-littering street sign. Meanwhile, LiveWell Florence is holding a Day of Action in the community to clean up discarded cigarette butts and e-cigarette cartridges.
Megan Clere, community outreach coordinator and solid waste technician, said the contest is a “one-time” event for students. Rules and a submission form are available at the Boone County government website: boonecountyky.org
Amanda Changet, tobacco prevention health coordinator for the Northern Kentucky Health Department, said their event aims to reduce litter in the community while educating younger residents about the harms of tobacco use to their bodies and the environment.
“Our focus on Friday is to clean up hazardous waste created by traditional and electronic cigarettes (the most littered items around the world). The truth is that the tobacco and vaping industries have yet to take responsibility for the impact their products have not only on our health but on the environment,” Changet said.
Though the event was planned before the executive judge’s call to action, Changet said the group takes pride in participating in the cleanup effort. Volunteers will be out in the community Friday from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.