21-04-2025
Earth Day a reminder to help pick up litter on NC roads
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Earth Day has been celebrated for over five decades on April 22 each year. Although every day should be celebrated as Earth Day, it's a day that reminds us to protect the Earth and its valuable resources.
We got an email from a CBS 17 viewer in early April that says, in part: 'We've driven to Florida, Vermont and Minnesota and back, and North Carolina is by far the state with the most litter.'
That message pairs well with NCDOT's push to clean up our roads. 'Pick It Up NC' is their statewide roadside litter removal initiative. It's usually scheduled for the last two weeks of April and September.
You can sign up to be a part of this year's spring cleaning through your county's Department of Transportation maintenance office. They'll provide gloves, safety vests, and trash bags. In addition to volunteers, NCDOT maintenance crews devote one week of their time to pick up litter and haul away orange bags placed by volunteer pickups.
Littering carries hefty consequences in North Carolina. Fines and potential community service can be levied if you're caught.
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