2024-05-13 GSG  Board meeting

1.Treasurer’s Report (Sheila)

The financial reports below were presented. The proposed budget for 2024 (above) was unanimously approved by a quorum of board members. Nita Coleman, Sheila Wrenn, Jane Snyder, Cody Marks, Rodney Johnson, and Adam White voted in person. Anne Radke and Marlene Greer voted by phone. 

2. Litter Management Recommendations to the County (Nita)

All board members present endorsed the litter management recommendations as presented in the general meeting. GSG Board members will be listed on the document to be submitted to John Shannon. 

3. Other Business

none

 4. Adjourn




Green Saves Green’s Recommendations for the 

Pasquotank County Litter Management Committee


ENFORCEMENT

Recommend the following county ordinances with enforcement provisions:

  • All trucks must secure their loads or be fined. Includes city and county trash trucks and contracted removal services. 

  • Businesses must provide trash cans and cigarette receptacles and empty them regularly, including in their parking areas. 

  • All businesses and vacant property owners must keep their property and road frontage free of litter. Parking areas included. 

  • Require mandatory community service litter cleanup, even for first offenders. Minimum 4-8 service hours, more for bigger offenses.

  • The roads leading to the landfill  (Body Rd, Simpson Ditch, Oak Stump) are heavily littered by trash blowing out of vehicles. Community service cleanups should be done on these roads. Quarterly contracted cleanups may be needed as well.  

Establish and promote a Hotline to report illegal dumping, with designated investigators to identify culprits. 

Update fines for littering, and work with law enforcement and the judicial system to support penalties. Consider weight-based and category-based fines that escalate to match the magnitude of the offense, and the number of offenses. 

EDUCATION (Community)

Create a dedicated fund of littering and illegal dumping fines. Use for education campaigns and contracted cleanups.

Employ or appoint a local litter manager who is responsible for monitoring, education, and enforcement. 

Produce an Annual Litter Report Card for the County.

Create and execute a county-wide litter prevention education campaign. Example: “Love your River: Don’t Litter”. Invite county residents to submit slogans and choose winner(s)to be used in the campaign. 

Engage the community in organized group cleanups prior to special events. 

Commission a large downtown mural or sculpture with visual impact, suitable for photographs. See examples below. Port Discover is planning a mural and might be interested in partnering on this project. 

Use watershed maps and community art on trash receptacles to spread the message that litter washes into our rivers, blocks drainage, causes flooding, damages our water quality, and harms fish and wildlife. Engage community in the design process. Kids in summer day camps could participate. 

Educate the community about the services available in our convenience centers. For example, disposal options for electronics, large appliances, and tires. Clarify what and how to recycle in the county. 

EDUCATION (Schools)

All schools should have outdoor trash cans readily available on campus, including playgrounds and athletic fields. 

Teach students to respect and protect the environment. Add this to the Student Rights and Responsibilities booklet. 

Invite students to suggest waste reduction strategies for their school. When feasible, implement those suggestions. 

Students should do at least 2 hrs of litter cleanup on their campuses during the school year. 

Incorporate information about harmful effects of litter into the curriculum, and offer extra credit for participation in campus and community cleanups. 

Gift student drivers with a vehicle litter bag when they receive their learners permit and/or license.




INCENTIVES

Public recognition for businesses and organizations that keep their properties clean and take steps to reduce plastic waste. 

Award “River-Friendly Business” decals for best practices (reusable plates and utensils, straws only on request, no styrofoam takeout containers, etc)

Eliminate disincentives. NCDOT should not be charged to dump litter collected in our county at our landfill. 

ADVOCACY

Currently, the NC General Assembly prohibits municipalities from restricting or regulating the use of “auxiliary containers”: plastic bags, cups, and packaging. The county should advocate for state-wide legislation to reduce littering and plastic waste.

A state-wide Bottle Bill is strongly recommended. Bottle bills have reduced litter in the ten states that have passed these bills. 

Localities should have the option to regulate items such as single use plastic bags, straws, water bottles, and styrofoam takeout containers if needed to manage litter.