Annual litter sweep collects more than 1.5 tons of trash
Living up to its reputation, the annual “Plateau Pickup” litter sweep was once again a massive community effort on Saturday.
Volunteers gathered in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park to grab trash bags, safety vests, and gloves before taking to the highways and byways surrounding Highlands in an effort to clean up a winter’s worth of litter and roadside debris.
When the dust settled, the team of approximately 100 volunteers collected 1.5 tons of litter from area roadsides.
“This event is a highlight of the year for me,” said Kaye McHan, executive director of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce. “It truly showcases the pride and dedication our community has in protecting and preserving the natural beauty of Highlands.”
The Plateau Pickup is organized annually by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC, in partnership and with logistical support from the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Forest Service, North Carolina Department of Transportation, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Town of Highlands, and Town of Highlands Police Department.
“To see the amount of waste that this event brings in every year is really astounding, and it shows what kind of impact people can make when they work together for a common goal,” Highlands Mayor Pat Taylor said. “I’m thankful for the Chamber putting on the pickup every year, and I’m thankful for all the people that take part of their Saturday to volunteer. It really does make a difference.”
After a morning of hard work, participants returned to the park to enjoy a well-earned lunch. The bags of waste left along the roadsides were picked up by Town of Highlands trucks in the afternoon.