Orange County Youth Spend Earth Day Cleaning Up Tobacco Litter
By: Michelle Williams, Coordinator, Orange County Litter Control Committee
Earth Day (April 22, 2022) provided a warm and sunny afternoon for the Orange County Litter Control Committee and the Office on Youth to work together to combat tobacco litter in Downtown Orange. Two (2) staff members and 12 youth volunteers from the Orange County Youth Council worked in small groups and strolled along Main Street collecting tobacco litter (cigarette butts, vape pens, and packaging) in addition to non - tobacco litter. In just under two (2) hours, an estimated 7,500 cigarette butts were collected from the section of Main Street between Orange Presbyterian Church and the 7 - Eleven, as well as six (6) bags of assorted non - tobacco litter. In a spring 2021 event in the Town of Orange, an estimated 6,500 cigarette butts were collected. That fall, an estimated 5,000 cigarette butts were collected in the Town of Gordonsville. Cigarette butts are non - biodegradable and mostly made up of plastic fibers, despite their cotton - like appearance. Littered cigarette butts leach toxic chemicals, such as arsenic and lead, into the environment.
Pictured L to R: C. Case, J. Daniel, and J. Melton.
The Litter Control Committee would like to encourage tobacco users to utilize auto ashtray cups, pocket ashtrays, gas station and personal trash receptacles, and outdoor ashtrays. Places of business, please provide your employees with the proper receptacles for your staff to help prevent tobacco litter.
Back Row L to R: J. Daniel, A. Brown, C. Vines, M. Labrum, J.M. Vines, J. Melton, J. Hamilton, C. Case, C. Samuels. Front Row L to R: M. Williams, T. Jones, P. Courtney, G. Lumsden, A. Jacobs.
Citizens Coordinate with Orange County Litter Control for Earth Day Roadside Cleanup
By: Michelle Williams, Coordinator, Orange County Litter Control Committee
The Orange County Litter Control Committee (OCLCC) is dedicated to educating citizens on the importance of properly disposing of litter, and giving them the resources to do so effectively.
Pictured L to R: L. Lewis and E. Abraham.
On Saturday, April 23, 2022, ten (10) volunteers from the Orange County Democratic Committee gathered on Route 629 (Lahore Road) and collected 31 bags of litter from only a two (2) mile stretch of road! If you or your organization are interested in volunteering, please fill out the Litter Response Team Volunteer Interest Form or visit the Road Cleanup Information page on the County ’ s website to learn steps for a successful roadside cleanup. The OCLCC is grateful for the dedicated volunteers who strive to keep County roads litter free!
Pictured L to R: A. Sanderson, E. Abraham, E. Wessel , L. Lewis, S. Smith, P. Colby, A. Sanderson, and J. Rhett. Not pictured: R. Clore and J. Freeland.
For more information, contact Litter Control Committee Coordinator,
Michelle Williams, at (540) 661 - 5405 or at mlwilliams@orangecountyva.gov.
Page 7 | May, 2022
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