The “Nobody Trashes Tennessee” littler prevention campaign spearheaded by the Tennessee Department of Transportation received six awards from the Nashville Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America or PRSA. [Above photo by the Tennessee DOT]
The 39th Annual Parthenon Awards brings together Middle Tennessee’s public relations professionals to celebrate outstanding work, honor the top PR campaigns and tactics, and recognize leadership in the industry.
The “Nobody Trashes Tennessee” campaign received a Parthenon Award for its 2024 “No Trash November” initiative in three categories: Integrated Communications, Monthly Observance, and Kick-Off News Release.
[Editor’s note: The Wyoming Department of Transportation recently chronicled one family’s decades-long dedication to litter removal from what they consider to be ‘their’ Wyoming highway.]
The “No Trash November” effort also received an Award of Merit for Media Relations. Additional Merit Awards were received for Trash Masters Rewards Integrated Communications, which rewards individual actions toward litter prevention, and Tennessee DOT’s “Bear-Proof Trash Can Campaign” collaboration with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
The department noted that its “No Trash November” initiative encompasses residents, Tennessee DOT partners, youth organizations, and scouting groups during a month-long drive to clear trash from state roadways and waterways. In 2024, that effort removed more than 86,000 pounds of litter.
“[We are] honored with this recognition, but the real winners are our residents and communities that help to keep our state clean,” said Will Reid, Tennessee DOT commissioner, in a statement.
“Last year’s No Trash November included more than 2,200 volunteers participating in 154 cleanup events across the state,” he said. “We are committed to litter prevention and awareness, and we are humbled by the numerous volunteers and communities that have invested year after year to help us in our cleanup efforts.”
The agency noted that, over the past three years, its “Nobody Trashes Tennessee” campaign has earned 13 Parthenon Awards and six Merit Awards in total. Additionally, the campaign gained national recognition at the 2024 PRSA Anvil Awards, receiving an Award of Excellence.
