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Addressing Litter in Our Community

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Litter Clean Up 1024x244

Union County employees gather for a litter clean-up event
along roadways in Monroe and Wesley Chapel.

How You Can Help Prevent Litter
Union County's Role in Addressing Litter
UC Litter Task Force

Litter Task Force

The Union County Board of Commissioners has established a Litter Task Force – comprised of county residents - to help develop recommendations for ways to address litter in our community. Staff from Solid Waste and Planning are assisting the Litter Task Force in their efforts.

The members of the task force include Rodger Skirvin, Loretta Melancon, Rob Reichman, and Scott Abramson. Caleb Sinclair, Solid Waste Director and Bjorn Hansen, Sr. Planner provide staff support to the task force.

 

Solid Waste

Union County Solid Waste conducts several efforts that aim to address litter in our community. At the county landfill in Wingate, customers who do not secure their loads of waste must pay twice the normal disposal fees as a matter of policy. This policy acts to incentive residents to secure all materials before transporting them to the landfill. 

365x274LitterVolunteers

Solid Waste offers Litter Loaner Kits to schools, nonprofits, churches and businesses to use to coordinate their own litter clean-up events. Click here to learn more about this program and how your organization can participate.

Within the Union County organization, Solid Waste organizes opportunities for county employees to use their paid volunteer time-off to clean-up litter in areas throughout Union County. These events have been popular with Union County employees and are usually held in the spring or fall of each year.

 

Environmental Health

Union County’s Ordinance for Solid Waste Management was adopted pursuant to the authority contained in NCGS 153A-121 through 132.1 and NCGS 153A-136. Its primary aim is to prevent illegal dumping by prohibiting the disposal of solid waste in unauthorized locations. Union County Environmental Health is responsible for investigating complaints related to improper storage and disposal of solid waste in unincorporated areas of Union County, Hemby Bridge and Mineral Springs. Please use this form to submit a solid waste complaint to Environmental Health.

 

Public Communications

Union County Public Communications assists all county departments by distributing relevant information about initiatives, programs and services available to county residents. Awareness about litter and how county residents can help change their behavior or get involved in litter clean-up efforts is key to addressing Union County’s litter abatement goals. If you would like to be made aware of community clean-ups or other litter abatement news and announcements, follow Union County on social media and sign up for the County's weekly Horizon email newsletter.

 

Sheriff's Office & Law Enforcement  

Under North Carolina's anti-littering law, individuals may be fined and face community service for intentionally and unintentionally littering.

Intentional littering in the amount of 15 pounds or less is a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $250 to $1,000 and up to 24 hours of community service. Unintentional littering in the amount of 15 pounds or less is an infraction punishable by a fine of up to $100 and up to 12 hours of community service.

Please contact your town's police department or the Union County Sheriff's Office on their non-emergency number to request law enforcement assistance with littering complaints: 704-289-1591.