Keep IT Beautiful

Keep IT Beautiful started in 2021 with annual Fall and Spring Litter Sweeps to address the growing litter problem along our roadways. 

Fast forward to the spring of 2024, and the Town began to mow and maintain the rights-of-way along NCDOT-owned roads within the Town in addition to the Town-owned roads. This maintenance includes picking up litter along these roadways before mowing begins.

Thanks to the hard work of the Public Works Right-of-Way crew, there is now considerably less litter along Indian Trail’s roads. While this is a good thing for the Town, the lack of litter didn’t leave a whole lot for our litter sweep volunteers to do.

So, we decided to pivot and turn the litter sweeps into Fall and Spring Beautification Days. In the spring, the Town and its volunteers will partner with an outside organization, such as a school or non-profit, on a beautification project. In the fall, we’ll work on a beautification project at a Town-owned property.

Fall Beautification Day: Indian Trail Cemetery

Date: 

  • Saturday, Sept. 27. There is no rain date.

Time and Schedule:

  • 7:30 a.m.: Meet at the Indian Trail Town Hall for a light breakfast and safety meeting
  • 8 a.m.: Leave for Indian Trail Cemetery
  • 12 p.m.: Return to the Town Hall

Projects:

  • Cleaning older headstones
  • Planting flowers
  • Spreading mulch
  • General clean up and maintenance

If you're interested in volunteering, please sign up using our Volunteer Application Form. Our hope is that with many hands, we can make a meaningful impact. Please remember to wear comfortable clothing and closed-toed shoes. The Town will supply the necessary equipment. 

A graphic of a green tree with the words Keep IT beautiful below it.
The official patch for the Union County Sheriff's Office

We Still Need to Think About Litter

While our Right-of-Way crew does a great job keeping IT litter free, they have to spend a lot of time doing it. Continue to help us prevent litter in Indian Trail and Keep IT Beautiful.

Facts About Littering

Where Does Litter Come From?

  • Irresponsible disposal of trash by pedestrians and motorists. 
  • Uncovered trucks.
  • Household trash at the curb. 
  • Dumpsters. 
  • Construction and demolition sites. 

Negative Impacts of Littering

  • Litter is pollution! Here’s how long it takes some commonly littered items to decompose:
    • Styrofoam containers: 500 years or more
    • Cigarette butts: 10 years 
    • Plastic bags: 10-30 years
    • Plastic bottles: 1,000 years
    • Glass bottles: 1 million years 
    • Aluminum cans: 200-400 years
  • Litter pollutes our groundwater, lakes, and streams, which degrades the quality of the water we drink and use for recreation.
  • Litter attracts rodents and insects, which can breed diseases that are spread to people, pets, and wildlife.
  • Litter kills fish and wildlife when they ingest toxic substances or become entangled in trash.
  • Large items of litter on the roadways from unsecured loads can cause traffic accidents or vehicle damage. 

Litter Laws

  • North Carolina has an anti-littering law in which individuals may be fined and face community service. 
    • Intentional littering of 15 pounds or less is a Class 3 misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of $250-$1,000 and up to 24 hours of community service. 
    • Unintentional littering of 15 pounds or less is an infraction punishable by a fine of up to $100 and up to 12 hours of community service. 

What You Can Do To Help

Help us Keep IT Beautiful all year long by doing your part to prevent litter. 

Everyday Activities

You can take steps every day to help prevent litter on our roads and in our parks and streams. 

  • Keep a litter bag in your car and dispose of your trash when you reach your destination. 
  • Utilize sustainable and reusable products to reduce the amount of waste. 
  • Make sure the lids of your solid waste and recycling bins close securely. 
  • If you see litter and can do so safely, dispose of it in the nearest trash or recycling bin. 
  • Keep litter out of pickup truck beds or places where it could easily blow away. 
  • When hauling construction material or other large debris, make sure it’s secure. 
  • When visiting parks, trails, or other natural areas, leave nothing but footprints behind. 

Host Your Own Litter Sweep

Select a date, gather your team, and borrow all the needed materials from the Town of Indian Trail! This includes bags, pickers, buckets, and safety vests. If you're interested in hosting your own litter sweep, call 704-821-5401 and ask for Public Works. They'll make sure the materials are reserved for you. 

Adopt-a-Highway Program

NCDOT's Adopt-a-Highway Program began in 1988 to combat the growing amount of trash and debris along North Carolina's roadways. The program has more than 120,000 volunteers, including schools, civic groups, professional organizations, families, and individuals. 

There is no fee to participate in the program, but NCDOT asks that volunteers commit to a minimum of four years for a two-mile section of road. 

Swat-A-Litterbug

NCDOT also created the Swat-A-Litterbug program provides a way for citizens to report those who litter to help keep the roadways cleaner. Littering is illegal and can result in fines for those who do. 

To make a report, contact NCDOT's Litter Management at 1-800-331-5864 or fill out a Swat-A-Litterbug online form.