Increased Litter Enforcement, River Cleanups Planned for April

Law enforcement agencies across Northern Virginia will be raising awareness of Litter and Illegal Dumping Enforcement Month in April. Meanwhile, area volunteers will be doing their part to clean up area streams and natural habitats.

Police will issue citations and make arrests of individuals caught in the act of violating litter laws, illegal dumping and unsecured truck load laws.

“Litter looks bad,” said Prince William County Solid Waste Division Chief Thomas Smith. “If you’re jogging, riding a bike or walking, and you see litter, it just gives you a bad feeling. It gets into our lakes and our streams; and it affects animals and fish in our habitats. It’s just bad, not only for our community, but for our environment, as well.”

A few clean-up events, provided by Prince William County:

• On April 5, people who are interested can participate in the 26th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup, the Yorkshire Dumpster Day or the Bristoe Station Battlefield Annual Park Cleanup.
• On April 12, there will be an Occoquan River Cleanup Day, a Town of Quantico Dumpster Day and the Rippon Lodge Cleanup Day.
  
• The Thousand Oaks Townhome Association Dumpster Day will be on April 19.
• CSX Railroad will host a U.S. 1 Cleanup Day on April 26. Activities during all of the clean-up events will run between 9 a.m. and noon.
• The Balls Ford Compost Facility will host a Compost Awareness Day between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on April 26.