Springlike weather has sprung in Ohio, and so has the litter
Closets and cupboards aren’t the only things that could use a good spring cleaning — so could many of the sidewalks and streets in Ohio communities.
Every year at this time, cigarette butts, cans and other trash seem to magically appear out from under melted snow where they’ve been hidden after being tossed out of car windows, whisked off the back of uncovered trucks speeding down the highway, or carelessly dropped.
But the litter problem isn’t unique to the coming of spring; it’s a yearlong issue that costs taxpayers a lot of money.
The Ohio Department of Transportation spends about $4 million on trash pickup per year and collects 400,000 garbage bags full of it, agency spokesman Matt Bruning said. Part of the problem is that the same people who pick up litter also plow snow, repair guard rails after car crashes and patch potholes.
“Litter’s kind of low on the priority list, unfortunately, but it is typically bad this (time of ) year for that reason — coming out of the winter, since our folks are spending so much time usually on snow and ice detail, they don’t get the time to go pick up litter as frequently as they would maybe in the summertime,” he said.
While some trash that finds its way onto the side of the road isn’t put there intentionally, a lot of it is tossed out of the windows of people’s vehicles, Bruning said. Because ODOT has to buy trash bags and pay for guards to watch inmates as they pick up trash along the state’s highways, taxpayers ultimately pay the price, he said.
To help offset the costs, ODOT has an Adopt a Highway Program, which allows companies and individuals to clean an adopted stretch of highway at least four times per year for two years as a public service, Bruning said. There are 1,400 groups that currently participate.
“It’s a problem everywhere. It’s not just central Ohio. And that’s what I guess is so upsetting and sad about it is it’s 100% preventable,” Bruning said.
Columbus’ street maintenance team also is in the process of winter infrastructure repairs, including potholes, and will begin a citywide push to clean up litter on March 29, weather permitting, said Debbie Briner, spokeswoman with the city’s Department of Public Service. Street sweeping is expected to begin in April, she said.
The community also will have an opportunity to participate in more cleanups as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, Briner said in an email.
“Residents and community groups can partner with Keep Columbus Beautiful on litter cleanup efforts. As COVID-19 restrictions gradually lift, groups are again working with Keep Columbus Beautiful to organize cleanups and get supplies,” Briner said. “Several neighborhood groups have already organized cleanups over the next few weeks.”
Briner said Keep Columbus Beautiful and Green
Columbus partner for Earth Day activities through the month of April, and 170 volunteers already have signed up.
David Celebrezze, coordinator for Columbus’ GreenSpot program, which encourages community members to live a sustainable lifestyle, said the 20,000-member organization recommends people take a bag on walks to gather litter.
Trash is not only an eyesore but it can reduce property value, threaten wildlife and contribute to water pollution he said.
“Whether it’s the litter problem or it’s climate change or it’s water pollution or air pollution, it’s going to take more than just government — it’s going take everybody doing their part and moving things forward,” Celebrezze said.
Homeowners can make a simple commitment to regularly gather litter near their homes, he said. Cigarette butts, he said, are the No.1 piece of litter collected in his experience.
In a time when larger problems such as climate change can make people feel helpless, picking up trash can leave you with a sense of pride, Celebrezze said.
“A lot of times when you’re talking about big environmental issues, it feels like they’re overwhelming and you can’t make a difference, but with litter, it’s something you could have a direct impact by picking it up and throwing it away,” he said.