Litter
Adopt A Highway
The North Carolina Department of Transportation began its Adopt A Highway program in 1988 as a volunteer clean up organization committed to reducing roadside litter and keeping North Carolina's highways clean.
Adopt A Highway volunteers save taxpayers approximately $4 million annually in roadside clean up costs. North Carolina has one of the largest anti litter programs in the nation with 6,000 participating groups and 120,000 volunteers statewide. There are 56 coordinators statewide.
More Information
To learn more and Adopt A Highway contact the Office of Beautification at 800-331-5864 or go online.
Big Sweep
The North Carolina component of the International Coastal Cleanup is an event in which volunteers from all across North Carolina - and approximately 90 counties - come together to clean up rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Locally
- Keep It Clean (KIC) volunteers gather with canoes at Fourth Creek to clean trash, pollutants and contaminates out of the water. Tires, large car parts, toys, road signs, propane tanks and even a porta-potty have been found among the wide array of litter polluting local waters.
- Volunteers assemble at Duke Power State Park.
- River Keepers and Island Keepers are a part of Big Sweep and volunteer year round.
- McCrary Access is another volunteer location where Scout troops and churches assemble.
Illegal Dumping
Illegal dumping is a prosecutable offense in Iredell County. Iredell County's Solid Waste Enforcement Officer investigates illegal dumps, illegal burning, littering, uncovered loads and their locations throughout the county. The officer investigates complaints from concerned citizens and law enforcement officials alike and has the authority to issue violation citations.
Some of Iredell’s biggest illegal dumping problems occur along the back roads of our county. Illegal dumps containing hundreds of tires have been discovered along the side of roadways. Stoves, refrigerators, couches and microwaves have been found tossed down hills. It is important that homeowners know that they can bring discarded items to the Iredell County landfill at no cost.
Consequences
Although landowners are ultimately responsible for cleanup, trash from an illegal dump is searched for a name that may lead to the dumping perpetrator. A warning to clean it up is often given before a citation is issued for each day the waste is left in place.
Reporting an Illegal Dump
To report an illegal dump call the Solid Waste Enforcement Officer at 704-878-5430 and provide the location of the site. Or email us.
Illegal dumping is a prosecutable offense in Iredell County. Iredell County's Solid Waste Enforcement Officer investigates illegal dumps, illegal burning, littering, uncovered loads and their locations throughout the county. The officer investigates complaints from concerned citizens and law enforcement officials alike and has the authority to issue violation citations.
Some of Iredell’s biggest illegal dumping problems occur along the back roads of our county. Illegal dumps containing hundreds of tires have been discovered along the side of roadways. Stoves, refrigerators, couches and microwaves have been found tossed down hills. It is important that homeowners know that they can bring discarded items to the Iredell County landfill at no cost.
Consequences
Although landowners are ultimately responsible for cleanup, trash from an illegal dump is searched for a name that may lead to the dumping perpetrator. A warning to clean it up is often given before a citation is issued for each day the waste is left in place.
Reporting an Illegal Dump
To report an illegal dump call the Solid Waste Enforcement Officer at 704-878-5430 and provide the location of the site. Or email us.
Spring & Fall Litter Sweep
- April and September
Brought to you by the North Carolina Department Of Transportation office of Beautification:
- Litter Sweep is a statewide roadside litter cleanup drive sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
- It is a biannual event.
- The NCDOT Office of Beautification Programs administer the Spring and Fall Litter Sweep.
- Volunteers can obtain supplies such as orange trash bags, blue bags (for items to be recycled), orange safety vests and gloves from any of the NCDOTs county maintenance offices.
Call the Litter Sweep Hotline at 800-331-5864 for more information.
Swat a North Carolina Litterbug
Littering North Carolina roadways is not acceptable behavior. Some people simply need to be informed and reminded that their littering, whether deliberate or unintentional, can end with their personal commitment to stop.
The Swat-A-Litterbug Program is an educational effort administered by the Office of Beautification Programs within the North Carolina Department of Transportation that tracks down litterbugs through license plates.
Report a Litterbug
In order to communicate to people who litter, each citizen is asked to assist in an educational effort to ensure a cleaner and safer North Carolina roadway system. Report a litterbug by contacting the Office of Beautification Programs at 800-331-5864 or online.
What constitutes litter?
Littering shall mean throwing, scattering, spilling, placing, dumping, depositing, causing or allowing to be thrown, blown, scattered, spilled, thrown or placed, or otherwise disposing of any solid waste upon any property with or without the consent of the property owner unintentionally or intentionally.