THOMASVILLE- Please Don’t Trash our Community! That’s the message volunteers that participated in Thomas County Great American Cleanup Day want to share with those that litter.

The Great American Cleanup is an annual event hosted by Keep Thomas County Beautiful. The event is a partnership with Thomas County Public Works and City of Thomasville Solid Waste Departments. This year Canfor Lumber provided sponsorship support.

The cleanup saw a total of 185 volunteers. They picked up litter at 13 pre-identified litter hot spots throughout Thomas County. Volunteers collected ninety bags of litter weighing in at .5 tons. A few volunteers also worked at KTCB’s Community Teaching Garden.

The Great American Cleanup is intended to create awareness for litter prevention. The cleanup day on March 22 kicked off a 6-week campaign period for KTCB that focuses on DIY style litter cleanups and a litter focused marketing campaign.

Litter is more than a blight on the landscape. Litter is costly to clean up. It impacts individuals’ health and well-being. It threatens the environment and wildlife. It finds its way into the waterways and oceans.

Litter is caused by people. People can also prevent litter. Cover truck loads. Keep the yard clean and free of things that can blow into the street and become litter. When visiting a park, remember to take out what’s brought in. Discourage people from littering by setting a good example. Don’t throw any litter (including cigarette butts) out of the car.