Tennessee DOT Heralds Success of ‘No Trash November’

More than 77,000 pounds of litter were removed from roadsides and waterways statewide as part of the 5th Annual “No Trash November” month-long campaign sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

[Above image by Tennessee DOT]

Throughout the month, 2,470 volunteers participated in 205 cleanup events, the agency said in a statement – collecting 3,596 bags of litter weighing a total of 77,129 pounds.

This annual cleanup initiative also brings together Tennessee DOT’s litter prevention partners and organizations, including Keep Tennessee Beautiful affiliates, Litter Grant recipients, Adopt-A-Highway groups, youth organizations such as Girl Scouts and Scouting America, and many others.

Tennessee DOT noted that youth groups can earn patches for their cleanup efforts through its Youth Patch Program: receiving a “Nobody Trashes Tennessee” logo patch for a scout’s first cleanup; the “Trashsquatch” patch, awarded for a second cleanup; and now the “Rocco the Raccoon” patch, for Scouts who complete their third cleanup service project.

The agency added that litter cleanup participants aged 13 and older may earn rewards for their litter prevention efforts through the Trash Masters Rewards program, which offers points for attending cleanup events, completing litter prevention quizzes, and spreading awareness. Points may be redeemed for discounts at local businesses and exclusive “Nobody Trashes Tennessee” merchandise, Tennessee DOT said.