County seeks public engagement in litter initiative
Faced with growing piles of litter up around bus stops and
no funds for trash pickup, the Fairfax County Department of Solid Waste is
asking residents to help out.
no funds for trash pickup, the Fairfax County Department of Solid Waste is
asking residents to help out.
The department is launching a contest to see which group
of bus riders can collect the most trash
in plastic bags affixed to the bus stop sign or a nearby tree.
of bus riders can collect the most trash
in plastic bags affixed to the bus stop sign or a nearby tree.
When trash bags
become filled to the bursting point with Styrofoam fast food containers,
7-Eleven coffee cups, gum wrappers, crumpled tissues, cigarette butts, and other
litter, residents are encouraged to add a second bag.
become filled to the bursting point with Styrofoam fast food containers,
7-Eleven coffee cups, gum wrappers, crumpled tissues, cigarette butts, and other
litter, residents are encouraged to add a second bag.
There will, of course, be an incentive for playing the
litter game. County solid waste personnel will make the rounds on the last day
of the month with a portable scale and weigh the bags. Bus riders at the bus
stop with the heaviest trash bags will get gift cards to a local fast food
restaurant.
litter game. County solid waste personnel will make the rounds on the last day
of the month with a portable scale and weigh the bags. Bus riders at the bus
stop with the heaviest trash bags will get gift cards to a local fast food
restaurant.
“This competition is a great way to encourage citizens to
join the effort to keep our roadways clean,” said Stewart Sewell, director of
the Solid Waste Department. “Instead of litter lying around in messy random
piles, let’s work together to get it all collected in giant hanging bags,” he
said.
join the effort to keep our roadways clean,” said Stewart Sewell, director of
the Solid Waste Department. “Instead of litter lying around in messy random
piles, let’s work together to get it all collected in giant hanging bags,” he
said.
14 responses to “County seeks public engagement in litter initiative”
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Cue the people that don't realize it's 4/1 in 3…2….1….PENNYGROSARGAGRGARGGGAAAAAAAAA
What a great idea. I'll start leaving my trash at the local bus stop now, no need to pay AAA to pick it up from my house. Plus I get a chance to win a contest.
one of the richest counties in the world is reduced to this. really well managed.
Virginia is for Lovers should be changed to Virginia is for Lovers of TRASH. As a state we are incapable of recognizing this issue and the "Litter" tax system is completely broken. And yet it goes on because it is designed not to change and there is no recognition that parts of Virginia are no longer rural. The Litter tax runs between $11 to $15 per property tax cycle for commercial businesses like 7-11's and McDonalds who are the largest generators of trash. That money is then donated to the Clean Fairfax Council here which is supposed to be actively pursuing clean-ups. While they do supply trash bags I'm not sure actively pursuing can describe their organization efforts. This tax totals about $186,000 per year which barely covers salaries and bulk trash bags for a year. The litter tax board is made up of lobbyists for the bottle & can industry who don't want it to change. Virginia truly is for Lovers of TRASH. And we are drowning in it. This is a system developed over 50 years ago that doesn't address today's problem and as a state we are incapable,apparently, of solving it. I applaud the efforts of the county to try something.
Not sure if this comment is 4/1 joke or not…
Glad you think it's a joke. I certainly don't.
My mistake, I thought it may be a satirical comment. I didn't realize people took fictitious news so seriously, my apologies.
Honestly, when I first read this I thought it was The Onion. What a shame.
How about trash bags INSIDE the bus! and then taken off the bus at the end of run, into large trash bins!
I think this is April Fools, no?!
You got me Ellie I fell for it. Too Funny.
Sweet, let's play "Trash Piñata" afterwards!
And if you think this is a joke read on
and see for yourself who controls the distribution of the tax funds collected:
http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/LandProtectionRevitalization/RecyclingandLitterPreventionPrograms/LitterControlandRecyclingFundAdvisoryBoard.aspx
and this:
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/swmp/chapter-10.pdf
And now you will know why nothing will ever get done as long as this is the way it all operates. It's not in the interest of the bottle & can industry or the petroleum based plastic manufacturers to change the system. So enjoy your trash. The problems in Virginia goes way beyond Penny Gross.
If this isn't a joke, the BoS has not only lost their hair they have lost their minds.