Highlands may have a reputation as an upscale mountain community, but that doesn’t mean the people who live here are afraid to get their hands dirty.
Take the annual Plateau Pickup, sponsored by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, as an example.
On Saturday morning more than 50 volunteers made their way bright and early to Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park to pick up their Pickup supplies. Orange vests, work gloves and face coverings were the hot fashion accessories of the day and a catered breakfast from Fressers Courtyard Café was the incentive.
Perhaps the beauty of the Plateau Pickup as an event is the cross section of the community it brings together. There were elected officials, school kids, members of civic organizations, business owners and even a couple journalists donning the blaze orange to support a common cause.
The Pickup itself is a labor of love as volunteers spread out all over town to collect the trash of less considerate folks who litter. It can be a discouraging experience to see all of the trash that gets tossed along local roadways, but it is satisfying to drive down the newly-cleaned road afterward and feel the sense of accomplishment that comes with doing a civic duty.
A few things that stuck out during the 2021 pickup were;
• The amount of beer cans and liquor bottles that were collected. Assuming most litter is tossed from a moving vehicle, it doesn’t put Highlands in a positive light to think of so many people potentially drinking while in the car.
• The amount of trash tossed out within close proximity to proper receptacles. Highlands has plenty of town maintained trash cans scattered about, so it’s disheartening to see litter casually thrown into wooded areas, behind buildings, etc. when a trash can is within a short walk.
• The amount of fast food waste along the roadside. Highlands does not have a fast food chain restaurant. So to collect so many cups, wrappers and paper bags from fast food establishments makes it appear as though a high percentage of Highlands’ litter is coming from out of town.
There is talk of a fall Plateau Pickup event in 2021, and unfortunately it will probably be needed. The volunteers will be ready, because that is the kind of place Highlands is.