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Litter Education & Awareness

CASE STUDY: Allen County

Painters working on the Plant Pride, Not Litter mural
Painters working on the “Plant Pride, Not Litter” mural

Participants in Allen County’s litter summit decided to undertake three projects to combat their litter problem. These included:

implementing a telephone hotline for callers to report littering and illegal dumping;
installing web or video cameras in frequently littered areas; and
developing a litter prevention awareness campaign.

One of the most successful projects in the awareness campaign was the completion of a permanent “Plant Pride, Not Litter” mural. The mural was painted on the side of a building in one of the communities targeted for litter prevention initiatives.

The use of the wall, as well as funds and materials, were donated by several local businesses and organizations. The city’s “Parks Not Prisons” program provided the painters to complete the mural.

One of two roadside billboards The Lima-Allen County Regional Planning Commission also found success with their “Plant Pride, Not Litter” yard sign and billboard project.

The organization developed the signs and placed them in the yards of homes located in targeted neighborhoods. In addition, the “Plant Pride, Not Litter” logo was featured on two roadside billboards in Allen County.

During 2004, a series of television advertisements will be produced to specifically address local trash collection, recycling and litter prevention issues. In addition, a local brochure will be created as a complement to the television public service announcements, and will be mailed to city residents with their monthly utility bills.

Students clean up litter In a recent initiative, new recycled plastic trash containers have been installed along the city’s school routes. Since the city cannot afford to service these containers, they are encouraging school area residents and businesses to “Adopt-a-Trash Can”.

The Planning Commission is also working with Lima City Schools to create litter-free school zones as well as a litter prevention awareness campaign targeted specifically at students attending public schools.

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