REPORTS: More than 30 tons of litter cleaned from Richmond County roads since April

ROCKINGHAM — Nearly 33 tons of garbage have been picked up from Richmond County roadsides in the past five months.

Reports from the Richmond County Solid Waste Department show that county employees and workers with the N.C. Department of Transportation collected 32.88 tons of trash from April-August — enough to fill 1,818 bags.

Broken down, those totals include:

• April – 425 bags from 34 roads for 7.09 tons
• May – 445 bags from 37 roads for 6.2 tons
• June – 382 bags from 34 roads for 8.54 tons
• July – 368 bags from 37 roads for 5.28 tons
• August – 198 bags from 29 roads for 5.77 tons

In May there were two roads — Airport Road and Cole Store Road (north of Hamlet) — where workers filled more than 50 bags each.

In addition to bags of litter, workers also cleaned up the following in the five-month period:

• 38 tires
• 33 mattresses
• 9 couches
• 4 recliners
• 2 televisions
• Assorted other furniture (chairs, desks, etc.)
• Plywood
• Carpet

In August, while there are no bags of trash reported for Grace Chapel Church Road, workers did find carpet, cushions and a toilet.

There were a total of 11 illegal dumpsites reported and investigated and two garbage burning investigations, with three warnings and one citation issued.

So far this year, 56.25 tons of trash have been picked up from across Richmond County — not including what may have been picked up by individuals and groups participating in the Adopt-A-Highway program.

Previous reports show that 82.2 tons were picked up in 2023, exceeding the previous year’s total by more than three tons.

The county is currently preparing to collaborate in NCDOT’s Fall Litter Sweep, scheduled for Sept. 14-28. Any residents wishing to pitch in can call 910-997-8215 to sign up and receive their supplies