RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Transportation’s crews, contractors and volunteers have collected more than 12 million pounds of litter from roadsides, further solidifying this year as a record-setting one.
“People all across North Carolina worked tirelessly to pick up more trash in 2021 than in any year previous,” said state Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette. “The best way we can thank them is by making sure they don’t have to work as hard in 2022. Everyone should do their part to keep litter off our roadways in the first place. Keeping North Carolina beautiful starts with everyone doing their part.”
Since Jan. 1, NCDOT has collected more than 12 million pounds of litter.
In 2019, NCDOT forces and volunteers set the previous record by collecting 10.5 million pounds of litter statewide.
NCDOT’s litter management programs are multifaceted. The department makes use of state-owned forces and contract services statewide. NCDOT’s Sponsor-A-Highway Program allows businesses, organizations and individuals to sponsor litter removal along roadsides. NCDOT is also proud to partner with the more than 120,000 participants in the Adopt-A-Highway Program, where volunteers pledge to clean a section of our highways at least four times a year.
If you spot someone littering from their vehicle, report them with NCDOT’s Swat-A-Litterbug app by downloading the app at
ncdot.gov/litter.
Litter is unsightly, costs millions of dollars to clean up and can hurt the environment, tourism and the state’s quality of life.