Local leaders take a stand against litter

St. Mary Parish elected officials and community leaders will take a stand against litter Friday by picking up trash along the streets of Morgan City.

“Leaders Against Litter” is an initiative of Keep Louisiana Beautiful that former Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne started last year. Now Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser continues in the same tradition by supporting a litter-free Louisiana.

The initiative promotes health, cleanliness and beautification of the community and state, which greatly depends on the services of Keep St. Mary Beautiful and Keep Louisiana Beautiful, as stated in the Leaders Against Litter Proclamation.

“It will be a day where leaders from all walks of life, the political world, hospital, religious professions, all leaders to show their community how keeping the area litter free is a top priority,” Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan said.

This campaign also asserts the support of informed citizens and community leaders is vital to litter prevention, recycling, beautification and community enhancement programs.

Approximately 40 people have signed up for the event. More are expected to register at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the St. Mary Sheriff’s Office substation in Morgan City.

Participants will receive a T-shirt.

The project site for clean-up will begin on the railroad track side of Railroad Avenue down to Poncio Street.

Volunteers will continue to pick up litter on the opposite side of the street and then return to the substation.

“We’ve toured that site several times that we’ve pinpointed,” Grogan said. “And it’s probably the most highly polluted area on Railroad Avenue.”

After Keep St. Mary Beautiful staff members calculate the amount of trash collected and number of participants, they will travel to the Capitol for a noon press conference by Nungesser in Baton Rouge.

Litter became a problem in the parish around 2007 and 2008, Grogan said.

“And it continues to be a major concern …,” Grogan said. “But we’ve reduced what was once an eyesore. Awareness is the No. 1 thing.

“The part that we’re lacking right now is the enforcement. … The enforcement part is really something we need to push because people need to start being penalized.”

Last year, the project was postponed for a week or two because of rain. But leaders still gathered on that day.

With rain projected in the forecast for this year’s event, it will not put a damper or stop the litter event from happening.

“Rain, sleet or snow, we have to move forward,” Grogan said.