Prevent Litter
Arkansas has 100,000 acres of public roadside along its 16,367-mile state highway system, 9,700 miles of streams, and 600,000 acres of lakes… and, unfortunately, litter can be found along all of them!
It costs the State of Arkansas approximately $5 million annually to pick up litter from roadsides. And even though littering is illegal in Arkansas – punishable by a fine and community service – litter continues to be a problem. Common forms of litter in Arkansas include cigarette butts, plastic foam, food wrappers and containers, paper, glass, plastic and aluminum.
Litter isn’t just an environmental issue; It’s also an economic development issue. When prospective businesses tour a community, they’re looking for a dynamic, growing community where their businesses can grow. When communities have great deal of litter, it simply shows that the people living there don’t care about their town’s future. If residents don’t, new businesses won’t, either.
How Litter Happens
It Gets Blown
- Litter can blow out of a truck bed without the driver knowing.
- Avoid putting anything in a truck bed that might blow out on the road, and cover all loads to ensure that nothing can blow out.
It Gets Thrown
- Litter shouldn’t be thrown from a vehicle.
- Avoid throwing litter out of car windows by keeping a litter bag in your car at all times.
It Gets Dumped
- It is illegal to continue dumping your trash at the site where a Dumpster once was.
- These illegal dumping sites can poison groundwater and kill local wildlife.
You Can Report Littering!
Keep Arkansas Beautiful and the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) offer a 24-hour, toll-free litter hotline so drivers can help solve the problem. The number is 866-811-1222.
If you spot a littering violation along any streets, roads or highways, call 866-811-1222 to report the situation. All types of trash and all types of vehicles are subject to being reported. Click here to learn more about the Litter Hotline.