Annual Plateau Pickup battles growing litter issue
As the Plateau population continues to grow, so does the amount of litter across the region. The Highlands Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Plateau Pickup on Saturday, April 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. to combat this issue.
Originally called the “Gorge Road Pickup”, the event was founded by former Mayor Buck Trott and later expanded under Mayor Patrick Taylor’s leadership. The Plateau Pickup now covers a wide range of areas throughout town, including sections of U.S. 64 and N.C. 28. Chamber Events Manager and Bookkeeper Tina Rogers said the Chamber will provide a list of roads, allowing participants to sign up for their preferred locations.
“As someone that lives here, you start seeing all of this [litter] on the side of the road and it does bother you because we live in one of the most beautiful places, I think, in the world,” said Rogers. “And it bothers people to be driving down a beautiful road and see the ditches full of trash.”
The Chamber will provide high-visibility safety vests, gloves, trash bags, Plateau Pickup t-shirts and pickup sticks for participants on a first-come, first-serve basis. Breakfast and lunch will also be offered and participants are asked to meet at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.
Mayor Taylor said the town will assist with garbage disposal at the event.
“We put dumpsters at Lake Sequoia Dam and the community building, and that’s where all the bags of trash are placed,” said Taylor. “Our sanitation crews with garbage trucks will come and empty the dumpsters and take the bags to the landfill.”
Rogers said safety is a priority, noting that the Town of Highlands Police Department, Macon County Sheriff’s Department and the North Carolina Department of Transportation have all been contacted about the event and asked to provide additional personnel. The Chamber also asks that children stick to back roads.
The Plateau Pickup is scheduled in April to coincide with Earth Day on April 22 and to create safer conditions ahead of the busy Summer and Fall months.
“I think this is an important event in Highlands because it reminds everyone that we are stewards of this Earth and this is our job to take care of it,” said Rogers. “This is one small way that we can give back is to pick up trash on a Saturday morning.”
With close to 60 guests in attendance last year, Rogers urges those interested in attending to sign up in advance to ensure enough meals are prepared. To sign up, email events@highlandschamber.org.
- Mitch Stone
reporter@highlandsnews.com