Video: Think Before You Toss

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) -Keep Mississippi Beautiful! The roadside is littered with paper, plastic, glass and trash. The department of corrections and inmates work to keep the roadsides clear but the efforts to cut down on litter seem to make little progress.

“Walmart bags, dollar general bags, paper cups from sonic…” said resident Barry Cole.

All end up on the side of the road, so what’s being done about the littering problem?

“We pick up tons and tons a year of trash on the road side but we got about 600 miles of road in the county and it’s kind of difficult for just one crew to keep it all picked up,” said Don Posey, County Administrator.

Just as fast as the trash can be picked up, fresh waste takes its place. County Administrator Don Posey says streets with the most traffic usually have the most trash.

“We do everything that we can with just limited resources and limited to hire people,” added Posey.

Many feel that keeping the countryside clean begins at home.

“I think everybody can do better, they have to start with the kids. Teach them not to throw stuff out the windows of the car,” added Cole.

“It’s a pet peeve of mine but I don’t see a lot of people doing it but when they do I mean it’s blatant, it’s just you know throwing stuff out the window and I just want to honk,” said Linda Lodato.

Cups and boxes of trash are just one of the many things found on the side of the road, authorities say if you’re seen littering you could be fined from 250 to 400 dollars.

“It’s really bad mainly on highway 12 but you know you have to have people to pick it up” said resident Sam Vaughn.
Oktibbeha County has fines for illegal dumpsites, but nothing that specifically targets run of the mill litter bugs. However, if you’re caught littering on a state highway, get ready to pay.

Officials say no trash is too small, even a cigarette bud constitutes as littering.