ALDOT says loose trash on garbage trucks may be main source of littering on state highway

CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. (WBMA) — The Alabama Department of Transportation is looking beyond individual cases of simple littering when it comes to solving the problem of trash along one highway in Cullman County.

Trash stacks up on the side of a nine-mile stretch along Highway 69 in Dodge City just before the county line between Cullman and Walker counties. Seth Burkett with ALDOT said there are no cooperative agreements for litter collection on this segment of road or any state and U.S. highways in Cullman County but trash pickup does occur in the area.

"We try to perform litter pickup on this segment of highway every couple of months," Burkett said. "Most recently, crews worked three days in late January, and before that, two days in late December. Additionally, we collect litter before our mowing cycles in Summer and early Fall."

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Burkett pointed to multiple campaigns from the state including anti-litter ads, "Keep Alabama Beautiful," and increasing fines but he also said the department does not believe individual littering is the biggest cause of trash in this particular area.

"The traveling public is not the main cause of litter on this route," Burkett said. "Improperly secured loads on trash trucks appear to be the primary source. The county landfill is just outside Dodge City on SR-69, and the sanitation department is across the highway from the landfill. Trash from all over Cullman County is transported to this location."

People in the area have noticed the same problem.

"I have seen trailers come through here that’s not tarped at all and lose a bunch of trash," Christian Lakey said.

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Burkett said it is difficult for the state to stay on top of this stretch of road when so much trash comes through the area on any given day. He believes that's is the reason the side of the road will be filled with trash just days after a cleanup crew works on it. And once they move on to another area, it may be some time before another crew returns.

"ALDOT has 22 roadway maintenance workers responsible for nearly 1,000 lane miles in the district covering Marshall and Cullman counties," Burkett said. "Our personnel cannot constantly pick up trash on this route in addition to their many critical roadway and bridge maintenance responsibilities."

This story will be updated with more information.