Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Litter Cleanup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Jefferson County honors schools, municipalities and agencies for volunteer anti‑litter work
Summary
At its March 20 meeting the Jefferson County Commission presented Alabama People Against a Littered State (PALS) awards and recognized dozens of volunteer groups, schools and local agencies for roadside and creek cleanups that removed thousands of pounds of litter and involved hundreds of volunteers.
The Jefferson County Commission recognized more than a dozen schools, municipalities, volunteer groups and law‑enforcement partners for volunteer roadside and watershed cleanups during its March 20 meeting.
The awards, presented under the Alabama People Against a Littered State (PALS) program, honored recipients including Minor High School Student Government Association; the Adamsville Police Department; the city of Fairfield; Freshwater Land Trust; the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and its reserves; Oak Grove High School; Clay‑Chalkville High School’s TV production class; and multiple community organizations and town governments. Several award citations noted the number of volunteers and pounds of trash removed at specific events: Minor High School reported picking up about 1.34 tons (roughly 2,680 pounds) during a recent cleanup, and other groups reported multi‑ton and multi‑hundred‑volunteer efforts over multiple years.
Why it matters: County staff and commissioners said the awards highlight sustained civic engagement and the county’s partnerships with schools, nonprofits and law enforcement to keep rights‑of‑way and waterways cleaner. Commissioners and staff also emphasized the program’s educational work with students and the public‑safety coordination that allows volunteers to work safely along busy roads.
Commission staff member Hannah (program coordinator) led the presentation and described a range of local contributions: volunteer cleanups tied to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, school video competitions that raised anti‑litter awareness, stormwater and watershed projects, and in‑stream litter collection devices funded or supported by local agencies. Rebecca Korea, outreach communications director for Freshwater Land Trust, said the partnership with the county and the PALS program “is incredible” and thanked commissioners for continuing the program. Assistant Sheriff Tony Pippen, speaking for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, thanked the commission and volunteers and said, “We will continue to serve the public forever.” Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. of Irondale said his city views public‑works, inspections and other departments as partners in hazardous‑waste and cleanup operations.
The presentation listed specific program results for recent years and events: Minor High School’s student government reported repeated Martin Luther King Day cleanups and entry‑level wins in a regional litter‑video contest; Oak Grove High School and other schools were cited for multi‑year participation; and several municipalities—including Adamsville, Fairfield, Center Point and Irondale—were recognized for coordinating volunteers and municipal support. Freshwater Land Trust was singled out for coordinating in‑stream litter collection devices and drawing stormwater agencies together across jurisdictions.
County staff also reminded the public that the annual household hazardous waste collection is scheduled for April 12 at three concurrent locations, and staff thanked the sheriff’s office and municipal partners for their logistical support.
The commission closed the presentation portion by thanking staff and volunteer leaders and noting that the awards are intended to encourage continued participation and education rather than substitute for broader anti‑litter policy work.
