With Easter in the rear view mirror, spring is officially in full swing on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau.
It’s the perfect time to do some spring cleaning, both at home and in the community.
The Highlands Chamber of Commerce’s annual Plateau Pickup litter sweep is scheduled for Saturday and more volunteers are needed if we are going to make our town and surrounding area as pretty as possible.
Over the past decade, litter along area roadways has gone from an occasional inconvenience to an everyday eyesore. The amount of plastic cups, fast food containers, aluminum cans and other waste materials builds up all winter and reaches its peak in April.
Luckily, the Chamber of Commerce recognized the pattern of litter accumulation and started the Plateau Pickup several years ago. The event brings together volunteers, civic organizations, businesses and anyone willing to lend a hand to pull together and cover as much ground as possible in a single day while picking up litter.
Pickup routes cover a majority of ground inside the town limits, along with routes along NC 106, NC 28 and US 64 outside of town.
All volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. on Saturday at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park where a complimentary breakfast will be served. There will be a short safety meeting and supplies will be distributed to all participants (gloves, trash bags, pointed pickup tools and safety vests are all provided free of charge).
There are also thank you t-shirts available for volunteers courtesy of the Chamber.
After a morning spent collecting trash along local roadsides, volunteers will return their equipment to the park and receive a boxed lunch.
Aside from the obvious benefits of the Plateau Pickup related to community beautification, it’s also a great way to meet other Highlands residents and get some exercise on a Saturday morning.
Picking up litter is not a glamorous task, but it is a necessary task, and the Plateau Pickup is an opportunity to do good in the community and make the town a little more attractive in the process.