Keep IT Beautiful
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.
- Opt for reusable bags over plastic when shopping
- Choose reusable water bottles
- Make sure the lids on your garbage and recycling cans can close all the way and fit securely
- If you see litter and can do so safely, dispose of it in the nearest trash or recycling can
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 by filling out an online form.
NCDOT also released a new Swat-A-Litterbug app to report litterers. To access the app, visit ncdot.gov/litter. First-time mobile users will be given a pop-up instruction on how to add a shortcut to their phone’s home screen. This will add an icon that, when clicked, will take users directly to the Swat-A-Litterbug form. These instructions will also be available on the app’s settings page