'Tuscaloosa County Clean' Aims To Address Litter, Dump Sites

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A new countywide cleanup initiative was introduced by the Tuscaloosa County Commission on Wednesday, along with the sheriff's office and county solid waste department.

Tuscaloosa County Clean, or TC Clean, will be aimed at reducing roadside litter and illegal dump sites, as well as providing increased enforcement of the laws on the books as a deterrent. The effort was literally rolled out following the meeting, with the introduction of the county's new solid waste truck and a demonstration of its capabilities.

Sheriff Ron Abernathy also announced the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office will resume incorporating inmate litter crews as well as court-ordered community service litter pickup to aid in the effort.

“The sheriff’s office is pleased to continue our partnership with the Tuscaloosa County Commission to facilitate a cleaner Tuscaloosa County," he said. "We will also continue to support community service groups who are committed to the cleanup efforts in our area. Since I took office, we have utilized inmate cleanup crews to help our citizens keep their roads and communities litter free."

Officials said the County Solid Waste Department recently underwent an extensive overhaul that includes additional personnel and equipment, as well as a mobile-friendly website to report litter and illegal dumps. The metrics from the website, according to Probate Judge Rob Robertson, would also aid in better addressing problem areas and cataloguing the data to help in the future.

“With this community-wide approach, the Commission anticipates great results and looks forward to partnering with the community to make that happen,” Robertson said. “We’ve been hearing from those in the community who would like to be involved but just not quite sure how to start. We hope this is the beginning of a larger effort to make this county a cleaner place to live, work, and play.”

The Commission also said the county's Solid Waste Department plans to work with organized community groups to clean up areas around the county.

To get involved, visit TCClean.org or call the Solid Waste Department at (205) 464-8216.

“Tuscaloosa County needs volunteers to keep our roadways and parks litter-free,” said Solid Waste Coordinator Brent Lollar. “If we all do our part, we can preserve the beauty of Tuscaloosa County.”

About me: I grew up in Tuscaloosa. I'm a graduate of the University of Alabama, an experienced journalist, editor and columnist and the founder of Tuscaloosa Patch. You can find me at baseball games, public meetings, events in the local arts community and wherever live music is played