Litter Task Force updates activities

Count the Carroll County Litter Task Force as one party in favor of Waste Tech’s recent proposal to Carroll County.

During the Carroll County Board of Supervisors’ regular July meeting, representatives from Waste Tech spoke to the county about a possible partnership with the waste-to-energy company could provide up to 80 to 120 jobs for Carroll County and potentially increase the lifespan of the Carroll-Grayson-Galax Regional Landfill by up to 100 years.

Speaking on behalf of the Carroll County Litter Task Force at the board of supervisors’ August 5 meeting, Janice Crotts asked if the board had made any decisions on the Waste Tech proposal. Pine Creek District Supervisor Tracy Moore responded by saying the county was “just having discussions.”

“I think the litter task force is very much in favor of that program if we can get that going. I see such a need for it,” Crotts told Carroll supervisors. “We are working also with VDOT on trying to get some new signs out. We don’t have many litter signs out on the highway anymore. I think VDOT has dropped the ball a little bit. We are working on all levels for this.”

Crotts mentioned the litter task force was planning to give out supplies at the Back to School Bash earlier in August. The group is also trying to advertise its new slogan, “Love Where You Live. Keep Carroll Clean.”

“We are getting our name out there to the community to let them know what they are doing,” Crotts said. “I had asked before about a large dumpster at the Cana site so the residents there could dump stuff that is not bagged. Right now everything has to be bagged and is $3 a bag depending on the day you go. Had you thought any more about putting a dumpster there so we can take the trash we can’t put in a bag?”

Moore replied that would be an issue with the Cana vendor and not a county issue.

“We have a provider that provides that to the Cana site,” added Carroll County Administrator Mike Watson. “It is something we have to look at and be okay with them if there is a way. You can charge for a bag, but not for a couch because you don’t know how much a couch costs. The first thought would be how much would it cost?”

Crotts said it was be a nice addition for Cana residents, noting the Cana site could charge the same fee as the regional landfill in Hillsville, which charges $8 for a carload of trash.

“It would be convenient, especially for elderly seniors in Cana. We just want to thank you for everything you’ve done and also wanted to ask once again if you would consider a stipend or mileage for those of us who do so much traveling? Four of us out are out constantly doing work in the field,” Crotts said. “We are going to sites and going into the county looking at sites that need the most work right now, trying to identify those areas of the county and we have people in different areas doing that. “

Carroll County Litter Task Force Chairman Judy Farmer also updated the Carroll County Board of Supervisors about the group’s efforts during the board’s July 1 meeting. She said the task force has continued to stay very active during the second quarter of the year, adding several new active members and working with Carroll County High School by placing five of the six recycling bins the task force won through Keep Virginia Beautiful.

With recent CCHS graduate Luke Watson and CCHS senior Ethan Edwards joining the task force, they’ve been getting reports that the bins are being used at the high school. Another new member to the task force has been going to CCHS weekly to pick up the pins. She hoped the county or town could help with picking the bins up weekly.

“Luke and Ethan have been a tremendous help with getting us into the school a little more. We have been talking with Shannon Dalton with (Interact Club),” Farmer said. “We were featured on an On The Ridge Podcast episode that was tagged ‘Talking Trash with Gerald Goad and Beth Oravec.’ That reaches quite a few people.”

Farmer told supervisors the litter task force held its Inaugural Earth Day Celebration on April 27 at the Southwest Virginia Farmers’ Market at the tourism building. She expressed appreciation to Brooke Love and the Carroll County Tourism Department for partnering with the event.

“She reported there was an increase in traffic at the tourism building and Debby Brady said there were a few extra people at the Farmers’ Market that day,” Farmer said. “We also appreciate Friends of Hillsville for working with us. April 26, 2025 will be next year’s Earth Day.”

Farmer said the task force anticipates next year’s event will be bigger. Many local businesses contributed to the 2024 event. There were several vendors, people were doing rock painting, some were planting, and there were giveaways. Two musical groups played during the event and there were three food trucks.

“We had a great time, met a lot of people, and heard a lot of comments about the litter in the county. Our citizens are very concerned with the litter problem,” Farmer said, adding that one $200 and one $100 prize each were given away. “Hopefully next year will bring more people out if we do that contest again. We may revamp it a little. Jeff Garrison, another new member of the task force, organized a pickup in Laurel Fork with food afterward. We hope to have a few more throughout the county throughout the year.”

Farmer told supervisors the Carroll County Litter Task Force had a float in the July 4 parade and planned to be at the Back to School Bash in August. Plans have already been made for the group to participate in this year’s Veterans Day and Christmas parades.

“We feel that getting ourselves out there and showing people we are willing to go the extra mile will help the people want to go the extra mile,” Farmer said.

Laurel Fork District Supervisor Jody Early asked what could be done to stop people from dumping couches, refrigerators and bigger items in certain areas. Farmer said the group plans to drive through the county to identify roads with “really bad spots” and have cleanups to get those spots cleaned.

“If VDOT will put up no dumping signs, sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn’t, but at least people will then realize,” she said.

Early mentioned some areas may be steep, which could be a problem with bulky equipment.

“We have trucks and tractors in my family, others have offered the same, but yes, we may have to get a backhoe or wrecker possibly,” Farmer said. “But you will be hearing from me if we do have stuff like that because obviously we don’t have the ability to do that.”

Early thanked Farmer for coming and the task force for what they are trying to accomplish.

Allen Worrell can be reached at (276) 779-4062 or on X@AWorrellTCN