NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Every November, the Tennessee Department of Transportation organizes an initiative encouraging people across the state to clean up their communities, getting rid of litter found along roads and in waterways. It's called "No Trash November," and the department announced the results for the third-annual initiative on Wednesday.
It said 2,201 volunteers participated in 154 cleanups across the state. During those cleanups, volunteers collected 4,303 bags of litter weighing 86,064 lbs. It also said 37 counties participated in the initiative, out of the state's 95 counties.
While litter is most commonly an eyesore, TDOT said it can also pose a threat to the safety of roads and waterways. Clogs on waterways can lead to flooding, and litter on the road can include dangerous objects that damage vehicles.
At any given time, TDOT said there are around 88 million pieces of litter on roads across the state. The department said it spends more than $23 million every year on litter pickup and on prevention education.
The HOA Litter Angels in Lenoir City collected 960 lbs. of litter in November, according to TDOT. The Cleanup Kids in Hamilton County collected 340 lbs. while Keep Tennessee River Beautiful removed a total of 13,126 lbs. of litter from Cherokee Lake.
