Chamber plans clean-up week
By Staff
Jason Houston FCT Managing Editor
Franklin County Chamber of Commerce director Lisa Stockton said she was "preaching to the choir" Monday night as she addressed the Russellville City Council about the county's litter problem.
Stockton told the council about an effort the Chamber and Junior Leadership Class are planning to help alleviate the litter problem.
The Chamber is declaring April 11-16 "Keep Franklin County Beautiful" Week. Each day that week, residents are asked to do a certain task to clean up the county. Monday is "Wash Windows" day, Tuesday "Clean up the Yard," Wednesday "Paint Something Day," Thursday "Adopt-a-mile" day, Friday, "20-minute Makeover" day, and Saturday "Seed and Plant Day."
Stockton said the Chamber is asking everyone in Franklin County, whether at work, school, or at home, to stop what they are doing on Friday, April 15 at 2 p.m. and spend 20 minutes cleaning up around your office, school or neighborhood.
In a letter handed out to council members, Stockton said citizens of Franklin County have to instill pride back in the community.
Stockton listed 10 facts about the litter problem.
1. Clean communities have a better chance of attracting new businesses than those where litter is common.
2. Household garbage is one of our main sources of litter; when you leave your trash out by the road, please make sure it is tied in a bundle and the lid of your trash can is closed securely.
3. A major source of litter originates from our business owners. Business owners should frequently check their dumpsters and make sure dumpster lids are closed and loading docks are clean.
4. City workers, construction workers, or anyone that constantly carries supplies in their trucks should always make sure that all loose materials are completely covered.
5. Business owners should realize that litter especially affects them. Litter reduces property values and deprives local businesses revenue when their dollars are spent to clean parking lots and the area around businesses. This will eventually affect the members of our community by increasing the cost of goods we buy every day.
6. Many smokers do not believe that throwing their cigarette butts out of the window has a very negative environmental impact, nor do they consider it littering. Not only does cigarette litter look terrible on our roads and highways, littered cigarette filters contain toxic chemicals that leak into the air and water and they can take decades to degrade, littered butts also cause numerous fires every year.
7. Littering presents a threat to our wildlife. Next time you flick a cigarette butt out of your window or throw out a piece of plastic, consider this… Cigarette filters have been found in the stomachs of fish, birds, whales and other marine creatures who mistake them for food.
8. One main source of litter is coming from the posting of handbills, signs, notices, and advertisements. When patrons distribute these materials, they are blowing off of cars, buildings and doors and landing in our streets.
9. Research shows that people litter if they do not feel any personal "ownership" in, or responsibility for, areas in the community we all share, like streets, parks, sidewalks, etc. Please realize that this is your home and take pride in your community by not littering.
10. People litter when they believe someone else will pick up after them. This is particularly true when individuals are not aware of the fact that the cost of this kind of maintenance is eventually passed on to them in one way or another.
Mayor Johnny Brown said he and the council supported Stockton's efforts and would do all they could to help the clean-up.
