CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The COVID-19 pandemic has had many unexpected consequences for Montgomery County, one of which is a noticeable uptick in roadside litter.
In recent months, Clarksville Now has received several complaints from concerned readers about an increase in garbage along roadways.
In a discussion about these issues, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office environmental enforcement officer Sgt. Mike Leutert called his job a “constant battle.”
About 65% of roadside litter in Montgomery County is coming from unsecured loads of garbage, Leutert said. Other sources include drivers throwing trash out their windows and illegal dumping, particularly on dead end roads.
Leutert says he’s noticed an increase in roadside garbage since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Limited cleanup crews
Clarksville’s primary means of roadside cleanup is crews of inmates from the Montgomery County Workhouse. Nonviolent offenders can apply to work on the roadside pickup crew in a “2-for-1” exchange for sentence reduction credits, meaning that one day worked is counted as two served.
However, in recent months, fewer inmates have been able to qualify for the program, leading to a slowdown in pickup crews.
Capt. Joe Thomas with Montgomery County’s Detention Bureau said that reduction is caused in part by limitations on the court system due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
More people are getting day-by-day sentences, so they don’t qualify for the Workhouse. And for those who do qualify, an approval process is needed, and that has been slowed by court restrictions.
All of this has led to fewer cleanup crews, and an increase in litter being left on the roads.
“I don’t think that the public knew how much of a good thing they had until it was gone,” said Leutert of the Workhouse cleanup crews. “We’ve been afforded the luxury over the years of having a great crew … and we just haven’t had that lately; in about a year.”
‘A team effort’
With fewer cleanup crews, there’s more need for cooperation from residents.
Leutert said one of the best things locals can do is ensure that loads are properly secured during transport. The law requires garbage to be secured in such a way that it can’t fly off the vehicle. This could mean using tie-down straps or a tarp.
“If (people) would just do what they need to do before leaving the house, 65% of this would be gone,” Leutert said. “Just use your best judgment in what you’re doing.”
Leutert added that he and the cleanup crew rely heavily on tips from residents to help identify trouble spots.
“It’s a community effort, on all our parts,” Thomas said. “We live and work here. To beautify our community is definitely a team effort.”
To report roadside debris, call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 931-648-0611 or contact them through Facebook Messenger.