Imagine cruising down the road in your car of choice, with no reason to worry. Of course, this does not mean not paying attention, but the brain is on automatic at this point. It is quite soothing, driving the speed limit and listening to your favorite music. All that changes when the car is attacked by an unidentifiable object, causing panic swerving and a slamming of the brakes. Thankfully, no one was behind to rear-end. The adrenaline fading, you look out to see the culprit: a plastic bag drifting along the road, with no one around to claim it. Not wanting to get dirty, you leave it, praying that the next instance of flying trash also leaves as many casualties.
As mentioned in the prior paragraph, litter, for all of it's environmental damage, can also pose safety risks as well. Flying plastic bags, sharp cans, and other miscellaneous items can cause panic and flat tires, leaving even more damage and frustration in their wake. On a less dangerous level, but still an important one, waste is an eyesore, degrading the area with it's filth and potentially becoming a breeding ground for pests and other undesirable animals and bacteria. In addition, leaving litter out gives the impression of neglect and being forsaken, which is sure to make residents unhappy and angry, hurting surrounding businesses and causing fractures in the community between residents and the government that is supposed to take care of them.
To combat this, Wake County in North Carolina is seeking vendors who are willing to pick up and dispose of litter within select road segments in their county. Their request is to identify qualified vendors that are able to collect roadside litter in compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. They are accepting questions as well, with the due date being August 6, 2024 at 4:00 PM EDT. To find more information, click on the link. The bid closes August 16, 2024 at 2:00 PM EDT.
