Citizens start anti-litter initiative

Published 10:27 am Friday, March 20, 2015

JULIA V. PENDLEY / Beck Warren (center) discusses his concerns about litter in Brookhaven and his ideas to help solve it as Homer Richardson (left) and Shirley Estes (right) listen.

JULIA V. PENDLEY / Beck Warren (center) discusses his concerns about litter in Brookhaven and his ideas to help solve it as Homer Richardson (left) and Shirley Estes (right) listen.

“Pick it up, Brookhaven!”

That’s a message Beck Warren is hoping to spread.

Warren, concerned about Brookhaven’s litter problem, called together a meeting of city officials, Keep Lincoln County Beautiful leaders and other concerned citizens to discuss what can be done to counteract the problem.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

“When I served on the school board, I got ‘When are they going to do something?’ Well, they is us,” Warren said.

Warren argued that everyone can sit around and wait for someone else to do it, but the problem will just continue to get worse.

Ward 4 Alderman Shirley Estes and Ward 6 Alderman David Phillips both assured the group that the city has a four-man crew out there trying to keep the city clean.

“The city is doing what it can do, but how can the city lasso every person who’s throwing litter around,” Estes said.

Estes suggested that the group start by educating. Warren also said organizing events can help spread awareness and getting civic and student organizations involved can help.

Mayor Joe Cox said the city is fully in support of any such initiative because it works alongside their efforts to bring tourism to the city.

Right now, the group is looking for organizations and individuals willing to help bring this situation under control. For more information, contact Beck Warren at fbwarren@cableone.net.