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Carolina Curious: Why Is There So Much Trash On The Roads?

Litter Sweep volunteers help clear trash from the roadside. The next sweep will run from April 10-24. Photograph courtesy of NCDOT.

There are familiar signs of spring in North Carolina — birds singing, daffodils popping up everywhere — but there's also something unfamiliar going on that's making the views around here far less scenic.

WFDD listener Karen Mercer asks, “Why is there so much trash on the roads and byways of North Carolina?”

State Roadside Environmental Engineer David Harris says he's well aware of the problem, and the answer boils down to available resources. The North Carolina Department of Transportation took a huge hit with the high costs of road repairs following massive storms last year. Then came COVID-19 and the pandemic-related budget cuts.

“They were predicting a $700-million drop in revenue,” says Harris. “So, if someone told you that you were going to have a reduction in your salary by a significant amount, how many things would you put to a higher priority? Litter and roadside items

Before his arrival in the Triad, David had already established himself as a fixture in the Austin, Texas arts scene as a radio host for Classical 89.5 KMFA. During his tenure there, he produced and hosted hundreds of programs including Mind Your Music, The Basics and T.G.I.F. Thank Goodness, It's Familiar, which each won international awards in the Fine Arts Radio Competition. As a radio journalist with 88.5 WFDD, his features have been recognized by the Associated Press, Public Radio News Directors Inc., Catholic Academy of Communication Professionals, and Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas. David has written and produced national stories for NPR, KUSC and CPRN in Los Angeles and conducted interviews for Minnesota Public Radio's Weekend America.

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