READ MORE: The name — HillbillyHippie — isn't all that's unique about this new Champaign County shop
Initially, the billboards will promote the Great American Cleanup, a program that runs through the end of May and allows volunteers to pick up trash throughout the county. The messages on the permanent billboards can be changed periodically, however, said Steve Schlather, program coordinator for the Clark County Solid Waste District.
Recycling is good for the environment, but it also conserves county resources, he said. People who leave tires and other trash along the side of the road create an additional burden for all residents, he said.
RELATED: This eyesore Urbana site could soon have new life after a long cleanup
“It creates an expense for the county because we have to pay people to pick that up to have it disposed of,” Schlather said. “Instead of the person who generated the trash paying for it, the rest of us are bearing the cost.”
A 2017 annual report from the district shows the county cleaned up 78 tons of illegally dumped trash along with more than 700 tires and 1,406 trash bags from township roads in 2016.
MORE: Clark County Fairgrounds lands sponsor for annual boat race
Schlather said the county provides five residential recycling stations throughout the county that allows residents to drop off materials that can be recycled at no cost. Those stations are located throughout the county, including in Springfield, Enon and South Charleston.
“We figure it’s a good way to get more awareness out there,” Schlather said of the billboards.
About the Author