If you’ve traveled the scenic roads of Goochland County, you may have noticed concentrated pockets of roadside trash, specifically along routes leading to the County’s Convenience Centers. The County is providing free cargo nets and litter pick up kits, while supplies last, on Saturday, September 30th between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. as an active step to address ongoing littering. The nets and kits will be given away at both Goochland’s Central Convenience Center (1908 Hidden Rock Lane) and Western Convenience Center (3455 Hadensville-Fife Road).
The County encourages drivers to cover your load and keep trash off the road by using cargo nets or similar devices. Securing loads when hauling trash and other materials helps prevents items from leaving truck beds or trailers, reducing litter and roadway hazards.
The give-away is part of the multi-pronged approach Goochland County staff are taking to combat the ongoing issue of trash along County roadways. Other methods include policing high traveled/high litter areas with General Services staff as well as working with residents to help report areas where VDOT can provide roadside litter removal. General Services staff have posted signage at both the Central and Western Convenience Centers reminding and educating users about the need to “cover their loads” to prevent littering.
In addition to roadside litter collection efforts, the Department of General Services is working with Parks and Recreation staff as well as with the Friends of Goochland Parks to educate folks and facilitate clean-up efforts through the organization and implementation of two seasonal events; Goochland Green Day and Autumn River Day. Each event offers litter prevention and education programs as well as clean up opportunities in County parks and other designated areas.
Opportunities also exist for residents to volunteer towards litter removal efforts. VDOT offers an “Adopt-A-Highway” program and provides bags and other materials at no cost to volunteers. The Goochland Anti-Litter and Recycling Council (GARC) offers both an “Adopt-A-Spot” program and works with VDOT on anti-litter efforts. For more information on these opportunities to volunteer, please visit www.virginiadot.org and www.goochlandva.us. Please call VDOT to report roadside litter issues at 800-PRIDEVA.
