The Alabama Department of Transportation’s (ALDOT) West Central Region celebrated its third annual Spring Clean, as crews across the region worked together to clean Alabama’s roadways.
All eight districts, and personnel working within them, participated by collecting litter along various state highways on April 17. The initiative supports ALDOT’s broader commitment to raising awareness about the impact of littering and the financial burden it places on the state.
Crews focused on heavily traveled and highly visible routes. The Carrolton District cleaned various routes; the Fayette District cleaned a stretch of SR-18 around Vernon; the Jasper District targeted parts of SR-5 in east Walker County and the Hamilton District focused on the I-22 interchanges.
In the southern part of the region, the Tuscaloosa District cleaned a segment of SR-69 South, the Maplesville District focused on SR-155, the Greensboro District addressed SR-14 and the Livingston District tackled a portion of SR-39.
ALDOT spent $9.4 million on litter cleanup in fiscal year 2024. These funds could have been used to maintain roads and bridges.
“We see the impact of litter every day, not just on the roadside but also in the environment,” said Lyndi Blackburn, West Central Region Assistant Engineer. “Every bottle or fast-food wrapper tossed out of a window is inexcusable.”
ALDOT encourages residents to do their part to keep Alabama litter-free. Organizing or joining local litter cleanups, properly disposing of trash and setting an example for others are simple but powerful actions.
According to the U.S. National Park Service, a plastic bottle can take up to 450 years to decompose. Small actions today help prevent long-term harm to the environment.
Simple steps to prevent litter:
• Dispose of trash properly
• Never throw anything out of a vehicle window
• Carry a small trash bag in the vehicle
• Properly secure loads when hauling loose items
ALDOT partners with Keep Alabama Beautiful, People Against a Littered State (PALS) and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to support cleanup efforts and raise awareness across the state.
The West Central Region includes Bibb, Chilton, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marion, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Winston counties.
