Litter is a growing concern in "The Natural State"

Arkansas has been known for it`s natural beauty. It`s one of the many reasons visitors come to our state. But those who litter are working to change that reputation. It seems you can`t drive a mile along an Arkansas highway without seeing trash. The state has tried a number of different approaches to get rid of it.. but more and more keeps coming back. According to the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, The Natural State has more un-natural clutter along the roads than almost any other state. But new projects in the works may change that. Arkansas is known for its untouched beauty. Pristine streams, flowing hills and lush landscape. But the picture perfect environment is now getting cluttered with litter. "It says we are not proud of the way we live and we are not the natural state, in fact we`re the unnatural state." It comes in all shapes and sizes and prison work release crews see it all. (Sgt. Calvin Peterson/Department of Correction) "Anything you can possibly think of, we find out here. a lot of restaurant trash, miscellaneous, kitchen appliances, it just varies." But the amount of litter the crews pick up from the highways each day is always the same. "We pick it up once every two weeks and still pick up 20-30 bags of trash." (Robert Phelps/Keep Arkansas Beautiful) "Some people are misguided in thinking that by putting litter out. They`re actually making work for people. This is true, but it`s costing them and you and I money." The Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission says the cost to pick up litter across the state is close to 7-million dollars a year. But aside from the cost, environmentalists are worried about how the garbage is impacting the land. "When they`re left in the environment, they begin to become a habitat for vermon and other things." That`s why the Highway Department is starting a littering hotline. The 24-hour, toll-free number 1-866-811-1222. (Ellen Hill/Highway and Transportation Department) "It will encourage people driving down the road who see the signs not to litter." But if they do, that`s what the hotline is for. Other drivers call the toll free number and report the license plate of the person littering. The Highway Department will send this letter to the vehicle`s owner asking them to stop. "If 3 letters go to one person registered to that vehicle, then they will send an officer to talk to them about it." So far, that hasn`t happened, but the highway department has sent out more than 800 letters. "You are really not getting someone in trouble. You`re helping pass the word to that person that littering is not only expensive, but also unlawful in Arkansas." Right now, the penalty for littering is a one hundred dollar fine and eight hours of community service. Four years ago, the penalty was a one thousand dollar fine. The legislature changed it to encourage police to write more tickets. According to the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, it`s working. The average number of tickets written by State Police during the 1990`s was around 70. The average for the past few years is up to around 160. "It`s just insanity. We`ve got to do better." While the hotline and new litter ticket laws might be making a difference statistically, crews out on the road say the problem is as bad as ever. "I think maybe people are a little more conscience of it and they`re just making sure no body`s watching, but they`re still throwing it out." Another big source of litter is from pickup trucks. The Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission reminds drivers to secure anything in in the back of your truck before you drive down the road. Even if it blows out of your truck, you can be given a ticket. For more information on how you can keep Arkansas beautiful, click on the link below: http://www.keeparkansasbeautiful.com/