CLEAN WATER TIPS

Pick up litter in your community!

In many communities, litter has become a significant pollutant. Improper disposal on land can cause trash to wash into waterways, where large amounts of it can concentrate in small areas. Trash can become litter when it falls out of improperly secured bins, blows out of garbage trucks, or accumulates at an illegal dump site. Litter on streets and sidewalks and floating trash mar the aesthetics of a landscape and pose threats to wildlife and human health (e.g., choking hazards for wildlife,

bacterial infection for humans). Litter can also clog storm sewer pipes, which can damage infrastructure and disrupt operations. Plastic litter can also break down into microplastics, which are challenging to remove from the environment and can be potentially toxic when consumed by wildlife. Municipalities can tackle trash

management issues in various ways. Community outreach and education programs are an effective way to reduce litter and engage residents in being part of the solution.

Volunteer your time with local organizations!

Engage directly with community organizations and nonprofits with missions geared towards beautification, conservation, and ecological practices by volunteering with them! The more hands, the better. Many organizations offer everything volunteers need in order to participate and have an effective, successful community clean up: gloves, high-vis safety vests, trash grabbers, and plastic bags. The opportunities to participate in community clean ups vary based on your location, but some examples of East Tennessee organizations who organize clean ups include: Ijams River Rescue, Keep Knoxville Beautiful, Keep Blount Beautiful, Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful. Participating in these efforts allows folks a hands-on approach with direct, tangible impact in their communities. It is extremely satisfying to work together, bag hundreds of pounds of trash, and leave an area visibly cleaner than before the clean up began. 

Protect your local wildlife!

One of the most immediate benefits of trash removal is the protection of wildlife. Animals often mistake trash for food. Ingestion of these materials can lead to malnutrition, internal injuries, blockages, and ultimately, death. Sea turtles, for example, frequently consume plastic bags, mistaking them for jellyfish. Birds can become entangled in plastic rings and netting, restricting their movement and causing starvation. By removing trash, we directly reduce the risk of these harmful interactions and help safeguard vulnerable wildlife populations.

Improving Aesthetics and Community Well Being!

Beyond the direct environmental benefits, picking up trash also improves the aesthetic appeal of our surroundings. Clean communities are more pleasant to work, live, and recreate in. A litter-free environment can boost morale, foster a sense of community pride, and encourage responsible behavior. A cleaner environment promotes a healthier and happier community.

​

Source: EPA

​​​​

 

TENNESSEE LITTER LAWS

Section 39-14-503. (a) Mitigated criminal littering is littering in an amount less than or equal to five pounds (5 lbs.) in weight or seven and one-half (7.5) cubic feet in volume. 

• criminal littering is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00)

Section 39-14-504. (a) Criminal littering is littering in an amount more than five pounds (5 lbs.) in weight or seven and one-half (7.5) cubic feet in volume and less than or equal to ten pounds (10 Ibs.) in weight or fifteen (15) cubic feet in volume.

• littering is a Class B misdemeanor, up to a $500 fine

• In addition to the penalties established in this section, the court shall require a person convicted under this part to remove litter from the state or local highway system, public playgrounds, public parks or other appropriate public locations for not more than eighty (80) hours. The court, in its discretion, may also a person convicted under this section to work in a recycling center or other appropriate location for any stated period of time not to exceed eight (8) hours.

Section 39-14-505. (a) Aggravated criminal littering is littering:

• In an amount exceeding ten pounds (10 lbs.) in weight or fifteen (15) cubic feet in volume; or

• In any amount for any commercial purpose

•  Aggravated criminal littering is a Class A misdemeanor, except in the following circumstances, in which case it is a Class E felony, up to a $1,500 fine.

 

Tennessee Toll-Free Litter Hotline
1-877-8-LITTER PROVIDES MOTORISTS A WAY TO REPORT LITTER BUGS

Tennesseans who are tired of trash along state roadways now have a new tool to report litter bugs. The Tennessee Department of Transportation announced today a new toll-free litter hotline, 1-877-8-LITTER (877-854-8837). The litter hotline is part of the statewide anti-litter campaign. The hotline provides a way for Tennesseans to report people they witness littering along the state’s roadways, such as a person throwing a paper cup or cigarette butt out of a window, or an item falling from an unsecured load.

“The new toll-free litter hotline gives citizens the ability to Stop It,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “Now anyone who witnesses a person littering can report it and trigger action to improve the quality of the environment and the cleanliness of our roadways. Tennessee has some of the best roads in the nation. With everyone’s help, we can have some of the cleanest, too.”

Citizens who witness a litter bug in action can call 1-877-8-LITTER (877-854-8837). Callers will reach a recording that asks them to provide information about the vehicle. The information that will be requested includes:

• license plate number (Tennessee plates only)

• type and make of the vehicle

• day and time the incident occurred

• location where the incident occurred

• the type of item tossed or blown from the vehicle

TDOT will mail a letter to the registered owner of the vehicle along with a car trash bag or portable ashtray and other anti-litter information. The letter is a gentle reprimand reminding the recipient that littering is against the law and punishable by a fine of up to $1500.

 

Click here for more information.

https://nobodytrashestennessee.com/the-top-roadside-litter-laws-you-should-know-in-tennessee/