Yes, litter has gotten worse in Charlotte

What’s happening: Numbers from the N.C. Department of Transportation, which handles cleanup along state roadways, show a nearly 24% increase in pounds of litter picked up in Mecklenburg County since 2019:

• 1.3 million pounds of litter in 2021
• 1.16 million in 2020
• 1.05 million in 2019

Why it matters: Litter is a problem both from an environmental and aesthetic perspective. As the city grows, there are more people around to generate waste and get rid of either properly or by littering.

The big picture: In 2021, NCDOT removed a record 13 million pounds of litter from state roadways.

• “We don’t want to break that record,” NCDOT spokesperson Jen Thompson tells Axios. So far this year, the department has picked up over half a million pounds of litter statewide.
• “We need the public’s help to keep our roadways clean. We encourage everyone to secure their loads and hold on to trash until it can be disposed of properly,” Thompson added.

Driving the news: The issue came up at last week’s city council meeting, and members weighed in about what to do.

“I feel like we all acknowledge the problem, the fact that it exists, and we have never been able to formulate a solution to that problem,” city council member Matt Newton told his colleagues.

This is an ongoing issue for which there’s no clear policy solution, at-large council member Dimple Ajmera added.

[Related story: Why it matters that many of us in Charlotte are bad at recycling]

The county also helps NCDOT with some litter removal, says Jeff Smithberger, director of Mecklenburg County’s solid waste management program.

• The majority of the waste along the roads he sees appears to be what he calls unintentional litter.
• “As I travel around our lovely state, it’s been a long time since I’ve consciously seen someone throw something out their window. I see things blow out of pickup trucks or other loads,” Smithberger tells Axios.

The county contracts with a group called Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), which hires recently incarcerated individuals who are looking to transition back into the workplace. Workers get job opportunities in roadside cleanup, then CEO helps place them in permanent roles.

In February 2020, the city, county, Envision Charlotte, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services (CMSWS) and the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation partnered with Coca-Cola Consolidated on a creek cleanup program using three devices called Litter Gitters.

• The pilot program and funding ended in May 2021, according to David Caldwell, water quality supervisor with Storm Water Services.
• During the program’s 15-month period, the three devices collected a total of 3,799 pounds of garbage and recyclable material.
• CMSWS currently funds the operation and maintenance of one Litter Gitter device on Little Sugar Creek at Freedom Park, which collects roughly 200 pounds of garbage and recyclables every three months. They’re seeking funding for additional devices.

“Litter is a significant issue in Charlotte-Mecklenburg streams, and we are addressing the problem through public education and volunteer programs,” Caldwell said.

What you can do: Don’t litter, for one. And if you’re transporting a large amount of waste, make sure it’s secured so that it doesn’t fly off your truck bed or out your window.

If you want to help with the city’s litter problem, here are a few ways:

• Participate in the state’s Spring Litter Sweep from April 16-30. There will also be on in the fall, per Thompson. We also do a litter sweep in the fall. More info is online here.
• Volunteer with Keep Mecklenburg Beautiful on litter removal in Charlotte streams and roadways during the Great American Cleanup from March 21 to June 22.
• Check out the state’s Adopt-A-Highway program. NCDOT also encourages civic groups, churches and businesses to adopt a section of roadway to clean up a few times a year, Thompson says.
• The Catawba Riverkeeper hosts litter cleanups periodically. You can also work with them on a private, small group cleanup. More info here.
• CMSWS regularly sponsors volunteer stream clean up events and a stream adoption program, per Caldwell. These efforts result the removal of approximately 30 tons of litter per year from our streams. More info here.
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services hosts its 4th Annual Creek Week March 19-26. Find more info here.
• Charlotte Wildlife Stewards is participating in Creek Week by hosting a cleanup along Briar Creek at Chantilly Ecological Sanctuary on Sunday, March 20. You can sign up here.
• North Carolina Wildlife Federation’s Clean and Green program is an ongoing effort to clean up trash from the environment statewide. More info here.
• You can even report litterbugs online through the county.

Editor’s note: This story was updated with more volunteer opportunities and with information about the Litter Gitter program.