Groups mobilize to make roads cleaner

Toni Baker can't stand the sight of litter and works hard to keep the shoulders of Millikin Road clean.

"Sometimes I fill up a large garbage bag with litter just from the trash within a mile of my house," Baker said. "In order for people to feel proud of their community, I think it has to be clean."

The Columbia County Clean and Beautiful Advisory Committee along with the county roads and bridges department, have listed the most littered roadsides in Columbia County.

"Columbia County does not have a severe litter problem, yet there is significant littering on certain sections of roads," said Jim Truitt , chairman of Columbia County Clean and Beautiful.

Most Littered Streets in Columbia County

North Bel Air Road (from Hwy. 28 to Washington Road)

Tubman Road

Stevens Creek Road

Wrightsboro Road

Old Union Road

Fairview Drive

Old Petersburg Road

Hereford Farm Road

The Pass

Clark Point

Cox Road and Blanchard Road

(Courtesy of Columbia County Roads and Bridges)

Tim Holloway of Columbia County roads and bridges had the department keep track of all litter reports in the county from January through June 1, to find out which roads were the most littered.

"It's not solely these roads and it's not the entire lengths of the roads but certain spots along the roads," Holloway said.

According to the report, the 12 most littered roads in Columbia County include: North Bel Air Road (from Hwy. 28 to Washington Road), Tubman Road, Stevens Creek Road, Wrightsboro Road, Old Union Road, Fairview Drive, Old Petersburg Road, Hereford Farm Road, The Pass, Clark Point, Cox Road and Blanchard Road.

Columbia County Clean and Beautiful is launching a program called "Operation Clean-up" to reduce the clutter along roadways of Columbia County.

"We already have 23 groups involved in the Adopt-A-Highway program," Truitt said. "I would really like to see the number of volunteers double or triple."

Information, bags, gloves, point sticks, and safety vests are provided for people who participate.

"We will never be able to stop littering completely but Adopt-A-Highway is a wonderful way to do a general cleaning that helps keep Columbia County clean," Truitt said.

When people see littering taking place or areas that contain a lot of litter, they can call the Columbia County Customer Service Office at 868-3375.

Georgia now has some of the toughest anti-littering laws in the country with littering fines up to $1,000. The Columbia County Waste Disposal Ordinance requires a cover to be placed over trash or waste that could escape from the vehicle while it is moving or parked along streets or roadways.

"Our hope is that more people will start taking pride in their neighborhood and community," Truitt said. "It really begins with respect for self, others and our country."

For information about the Adopt-A-Highway program call 261-4390.