JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. - The Jackson County Cleanup Coalition (JCCC) is currently working with local community cleanup groups such as Adopt-A-Highway, Bridging The Gap, Metropolitan Community Service Program, and Adopt-A-Street to begin a yearlong campaign called Community Beautiful to address the litter problem and increase awareness. The kick-off begins in November.

The Coalition, as part of Community Beautiful is hosting a countywide litter collection effort during the month of November in support of America Recycles Day, which falls on November 15 of each year.  To participate, contact your local litter prevention group to schedule a litter collection event with the city sometime during the month of November.  The JCCC and each city will provide all of the supplies you will need, including two different colored trash bags.  The typical yellow trash bag will be used to collect trash while the other colored bag (colors may vary) will be used to collect empty plastic bottles and aluminum cans.  Both sets of bags can be left along the roadside to be collected by city crews.  The yellow trash bags will be properly disposed of; however, the contents of the other colored bag will be transported to a local recycling facility. It is imperative that each group pays close attention to place only recyclable plastic bottles and aluminum cans in the non-yellow bag to reduce the chances of contamination.  There can be no liquid or debris in any of the recyclables, so, when in doubt throw it out.

Community Beautiful, a collaborative effort of MoDOT and Jackson County communities working together to prevent and cleanup litter within our county, urges members of each community to become involved in the litter prevention and cleanup effort. For more information, feel free to contact your local Public Works Department or Kerri Lewis, MoDOT Community Relations at 816-622-6328 or Lindy Stuerke, MoDOT Roadside Manager at 816-622-0411.

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