JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. -Communities across Jackson County, MO have joined the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Jackson County Sheriff's Department in an effort to provide a more beautiful and cleaner county for all to enjoy through education, participation and prevention efforts.

"Community Beautiful" is an outreach program through the Jackson County Cleanup Coalition (JCCC), a collaborative effort of MoDOT and Jackson County communities working together to prevent and cleanup litter within our county. The JCCC has been formed to address the growing need for litter control across the area. This includes preventing litter from accumulating along the city and state roadways, while educating the public and changing the perception about litter. The message is clear; it is NOT acceptable to litter.

Litter Facts

·        Litter threatens the quality of our environment and is a problem that affects everyone in the community.

·        "Litterbugs" can be found among people of every age, sex, race and ethnic origin, at every level of society and in all geographic locations.

·        LITTER COSTS MONEY. Last year, the Missouri Department of Transportation and taxpayers spent more than $1 million for roadside cleanup in the Kansas City District alone. This money could have been allocated for some needed roadway improvements across Missouri.

·        LITTER DESTROYS THE BEAUTY OF THE COMMUNITY. Tourism is important to Missouri and its economy. Litter can give a poor impression to visitors.

·        Litter is a safety hazard and can act as a breeding ground for fire and disease.

·        Litter can impact insurance rates as accidents can result from litter debris.

·        Litter can discourage the opportunity for economic development and impacts real estate values. Businesses will not locate in a community that appears blighted based on the amount of trash and where the community lacks in pride to effectively control litter problems.

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