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Litter Prevention Does Impact a Community's Economic Development

Morrilton, Wynne and Prescott, and Conway Business See Firsthand the Results of Litter-Free Efforts

Morrilton (Aug. 8, 2005) - Tired of watching their communities lose more than 1,000 jobs after two industrial plants closed four years ago, Conway County community and business leaders became determined to clean up and beautify the area.

A study conducted by a nationally known plant-location consultant found that Morrilton, Conway County's largest city, didn't "show well" to industrial prospects. This precipitated the community leaders' decision to focus on cleaning up and revitalizing the county seat. Other towns in the county were energized to do the same.

Conway County residents took action by launching an annual litter pickup campaign. Last year, the volunteer pickup crews collected almost 2,000 tons of litter and debris, along with 237 tons of paper products and 140 tons of metal material for recycling. Furthermore, owners of Morrilton buildings have made improvements - from fresh coats of paint to complete renovation - of their properties, and Master Gardeners and other volunteers have landscaped and maintain a number of flower beds along Morrilton's main thoroughfare.

Even the youngsters have gotten involved in Morrilton's turnaround. This past spring, Morrilton High School was one of nine sites chosen nationally to compete in Keep America Beautiful's greenup competition, sponsored by Wrigley's, the gum manufacturer. Morrilton qualified in the greenup competition when several students wrote an essay about the school district's limited funding and the need for landscaping and other improvements around new school buildings under construction. The essay resulted in an $8,000 grant from Keep America Beautiful and Wrigley's to fund landscaping improvements, and the efforts of nearly 400 local volunteers to complete the beautification project on a Saturday in April.

"The efforts of Conway County and Morrilton speak directly to the impact anti-littering and beautification programs and projects can make in a community, and the importance industrial site evaluators put on the overall cleanliness of a community," says Robert Phelps, director of Keep Arkansas Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. "Litter is not just an environmental problem, it is also an economic development issue. If you don't believe it, just look at Wynne for further proof."

Just last year, the community of Wynne landed an auto-parts plant when the site-selection committee noticed how litter-free the town was and added the town to its list of communities to consider. Wynne wasn't even on the committee's original list of towns to consider; committee members just happened to be passing through on their way to other Delta towns under consideration.

Several years ago, the City of Prescott included anti-litter and beautification programs in its long-term vision for economic development. The City and Chamber of Commerce partner to accomplish goals set for improvement around the community, and have, so far, completed the development of a downtown park, installed a unique welcome sign, added pole decorations on lighting fixtures through downtown, and initiated a litter pickup campaign.

"By allowing litter in your community, you might as well put up a billboard that says you don't care about your community's future," says Phelps. "If we don't work to prevent litter then efforts at economic development will be strained. Wynne knew it. Conway County and Prescott are putting the theory into play. I'm sure it's happening in other Arkansas towns as well. We all have a role to play in building up our communities into the future."

In fact, the new litter-reporting hotline initiated recently by the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department is one way individuals can reduce littering in their community and possibly alter their town's future for the better. Radio spots currently airing to promote the litter hotline probably say it best: "When you see litter fall, that's when you call.".

The toll-free hotline - 1-866-811-1222 - is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Motorists who witness littering on any roadway in the state can call the hotline and provide the date and location where the littering occurred, a description of the vehicle and the license plate, and a description of the item littered. A letter from the Highway Police will then be sent to the vehicle's owner alerting him or her of the unlawful action and educating him or her about the consequences of littering in Arkansas.

Since the hotline's launch in December, more than 2,500 calls have been logged. Tobacco products are the No. 1 item littered from vehicles on the state's roadways, followed by paper products and fast-food containers. An item thrown from a vehicle or blown from an open truck bed is considered to be "littered" and eligible for reporting to the hotline. Arkansas is one of eight states with a telephone number for reporting litter violations.

"The absence of litter in a community really does make a difference, and each individual can influence a community's future by not littering and not tolerating those who do," says Phelps. "Building up a community really does take everyone, and other than not contributing to the litter, the litter hotline really is the easiest and most effective role an individual can play in educating their neighbors about litter."

And last but not least, existing industry and businesses have a stake in preventing litter in the community, Phelps says. Businesses and commercial property owners should keep their buildings and grounds free of litter. They can provide ashtrays and trash receptacles for employees and patrons, so they don't dispose of their cigarette butts and other trash on the ground. They can also plant and maintain flowers in pots or beds on the site, and keep the exterior painted and windows clean.

American Management Corp. in downtown Conway is an example of a business that is making community improvement a priority. A charter member of the Conway Downtown Partnership, AMC has concealed its trash bin with wood and brick fencing in an area behind the building, placed ashtrays and trash receptacles at all building entrances and exits, and partnered with the City to improve sidewalks, street lighting and landscaping around the business. The company also sponsors a volunteer crew during each community litter pickup campaign.

And most importantly, business owners should do what they can to make sure their products aren't contributing to the litter problem. Unfortunately, Phelps says, this typically falls to the fast-food and convenience-store industries because food containers are the No. 3 littered item in the state.

"While fast-food restaurants and convenience stores cannot and should not take responsibility for their customers' actions, they can take steps to encourage their patrons not to litter," says Phelps. He suggests that proprietors of these types of businesses place a trash receptacle near the drive-thru or exit or display a "Please Don't Litter" message near the checkout stand or on food sacks.

"It really does take a cross-section of the community to prevent litter and positively impact economic development," says Phelps. "From the individual to the largest employer in town, everyone has a role to play, and if litter and community improvement are given the attention they need and deserve, a community can reap the benefits well into the future."

About Keep Arkansas Beautiful
Keep Arkansas Beautiful works to engage individuals to accept responsibility for enhancing their local community through effective actions to reduce litter, encourage recycling and promote scenic beautification. It operates as a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and is overseen by a nine-member commission appointed by the governor. Keep Arkansas Beautiful is funded by 1 percent of the one-eighth-cent conservation tax, and by utilizing volunteers, returns to the state a cost benefit of about $7 in community service for each program dollar spent. For more information about Keep Arkansas Beautiful, call (501) 682-3507 or 1-888-742-8701 or visit KeepArkansasBeautiful.com.

For more information about Keep Arkansas Beautiful, call 1-888-742-8701 or visit KeepArkansasBeautiful.com.

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