Bedford County launches "Love Where You Live" cleanup-kit program for residents and groups

DW Lawhorn, assistant county administrator for Bedford County, announced a new county program to support volunteer litter pick-ups called "Love Where You Live." "We have started a new initiative here to help you keep our county clean," Lawhorn said, adding that "it's called love where you live."

The program lets residents or community groups reserve cleanup kits from the county Waste Management department. Each kit contains four pickers, four safety vests, disposable gloves, trash bags and hand sanitizer, Lawhorn said. Participants are asked to contact Waste Management by email or phone to reserve a kit, then pick it up at the Waste Management facility at 1060 Recycle Road.

Volunteers must complete a short form when they pick up the kit to indicate where they plan to collect trash and report back the number of bags collected when they return the kit to the facility. "When you return your kits to the facility, tell us how many bags of trash you picked up," Lawhorn said. As a thank you, everyone in participating groups will receive a bag of gifts; Lawhorn noted some items are made of recyclable materials.

Lawhorn said more information and contact details are available on the county web page at https://bedfordcountyva.gov/cleanup. The announcement did not provide a specific program start date or a direct phone number or email address for reservations; Lawhorn said reservations are made "by email or phone."