“This year was a wonderful success” says Charlene DeSha, Executive Director of Keep Blount Beautiful, “I’m so excited how Blount County showed their “Volunteer” spirit this year!”   

200 volunteers collected 339 bags of litter, equal to 3,000 lbs,  which were used to create a BIG ORANGE POWER T and is currently displayed in on the lawn of the McGhee Tyson Airport.  Fans arriving for the Tennessee-South Carolina football game will be treated to a memorable display of the power of individuals who make a visible difference in their community. 

In today’s world where there is so much trash accumulated though thrown away cups, bottle and fast food wrappers, there is a constant and massive need to pick up trash, clean up the roadsides and various public places which get a large amount of litter left by careless residents and visitors.  Litter on our roadways tells visitors and prospective business we don’t care about our county.  Clean streets show we care and that this is a great place to live, work and play! 

In Tennessee and Blount County it’s illegal to litter.  Receive a $50 fine if you are caught by police littering items under 5 lbs., 5-10 lbs it’s a $500 fine and anything over 10 lbs is a $2,500 fine.  Is it worth it?  Litter costs Tennessee state taxpayers $11 million a year.  What else could that money be spent on?

What can you do?  If you see anyone littering out of their vehicle call the TN Litter Hotline at 1-877-8-LITTER. Offenders must have a TN license plate and be in TN to report them. Offenders will receive a letter stating they were caught littering with a list of the state litter laws.  What better way to remind folks to take litter seriously. 

The Big Orange Trash Bash is a result of successful partnerships between a variety of agencies and businesses as well as volunteers.   Event partners are the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, Alcoa/Maryville/Blount County Landfill,  The Daily Times, Blount County Sheriff’s Office, City of Alcoa Public Works and the City of Maryville Public Works Department.

Keep Blount Beautiful is an award winning 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization located in the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.  Their mission is to improve our community by encouraging litter prevention, waste reduction, and beautification. Visit www.keepblountbeautiful.org for more information or call 865-681-4809 to see how you can help keep our county clean.