Litter in Georgia
Litter control and prevention is a statewide issue with implications for many state agencies, organizations and businesses.
Litter Affects the Lives of Georgians in Many Ways
- Economics - Georgia’s $16.2 billion dollar tourism industry suffers when visitors see our roadsides littered with garbage.
- Environmental Impact - Litter hurts us environmentally, affecting our wildlife and water quality.
- Public Safety - Litter on our highways is everything from an annoying distraction to a dangerous obstacle.
- Quality-of-Life - Litter affects and reflects how we feel about our state
Litter Hurts Roadside Beautification Efforts
The Georgia DOT is currently responsible for maintaining 18,000 center lane State Route miles statewide and 5,000 interstate shoulder miles. As a part of this responsibility, the Georgia DOT also handles interchange landscaping and Wildflower plots along highways in an effort to beautify roadways and discourage littering.
However, the Georgia DOT continues to pick up considerable amounts of trash among the various wildflower plots and interchange landscapes.
Litter is a Legal Issue
The Georgia DOT and its partner agencies and organizations recognize that littering is a crime and a crime against the environment. With the help of local law enforcement agencies, the DOT has become serious about punishing those who abuse Georgia’s roadsides with their garbage.
A very important and potentially powerful tool is legislation. There are laws against littering, illegal dumping and unsecured loads.
The Law
Georgia Code:
- 16-12-120 - Littering public transit stations
- 16-7-40 - 16-7-55 - Littering and Waste Control
- 17-6-5 - 17-6-9 - Cash Bonds
- 36-1-16 - Taking litter across county or state lines
- 36-1-20 - Governing unincorporated areas of county
- 32-6-21 - Securing loads on vehicles
- 40-6-254 - Proper securing of loads
- 40-6-276 - Wrecker operators responsible for debris cleanup
- 40-6-249 - Littering highways
Contact Information
Special Projects Coordinator
Georgia Dept. of Transportation
Office of Communications
No. 2 Capitol Square, S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
(404) 463-6455