Harnett: Keep Harnett Beautiful battles The Harnett Litterbugs

Driving down county roads revealed Harnett County’s litterbug infestation.

In mid-July, Keep Harnett Beautiful Coordinator Morgan Pope, Solid Waste Director Chad Beane and Harnett County Environment Deputy Marty Ivey huddled together, sharing the history and current status of efforts to stop littering behavior.

Harnett has about 146,000 residents and in the spring of 2022, only 127 volunteers helped pick up 575 bags of litter from 12 roadways.

Volunteers dropped to 45 in the fall of 2022.

In the spring of 2023, 341 volunteers scored 1,360 bags of litter.

In the spring of 2024, 482 volunteers scored 1,500 bags of litter.

In the spring of 2025, 509 volunteers scored 1,900 bags of litter.

From spring 2022 to spring 2025, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) collected more than 2,195 tires, along with countless mattresses, appliances, furniture, and broken toys, dumped across Harnett County.

But don’t worry, NCDOT is still battling the litterbugs who continue to scatter used tires, worn-out chairs, and mattresses along roads near you.

Fuquay Varina resident Ben Da Costa said he used to work in construction and with new subdivisions popping up on Ballard Road in his neighborhood, he suspected construction companies because the litterbug increase rose in the past year, like the new houses.

“They don’t care. They’re tired and just throw it out the window. People are too crowded and become apathetic. Otherwise, it’s poor behavior from transplants. I wish people had more respect for the land,” Da Costa said.

Harnett County needs volunteers to blow the whistle on littering and help clean up. It is time to take a stand against this careless and harmful behavior.

Roadside littering leads to flat tires when someone needs to pull over to talk on the cell phone or help during an accident. It also develops a roadside diner for wildlife who are routinely injured or killed when trying to eat leftovers thrown out windows.

“We know we may sound like a broken record, but please, stop littering. The trash you carelessly toss out the window is killing our precious wildlife. In just the past two months, we’ve rescued ten raptors injured by litter, including this incredible Eastern Screech Owl. When he arrived, his left eye was closed, and he wouldn’t eat. Thankfully, his concussion is easing, and he’s now eagerly devouring the bits of mice we feed him. We’re preparing to test his flight in our specialized flight cage soon. While rehabilitating these birds is incredibly expensive, the reward of seeing them recover and soar freely makes every effort worthwhile. Remember: Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute! And please encourage your friends to do the same,” North Carolina’s state preferred wildlife rescue, Holly’s Nest Animal Rescue shared in Feb. 2025 on Facebook.

Deputy Ivey said restaurant bags, cups, and food wraps plagued roadsides near establishments.

Ivey said he had some signs against littering with the general statutes but had not installed all of them or the cameras. He was waiting for a consensus on the prime places where litterbugs commit their misdemeanors, which may mean sign postings and cameras on more county roads because litter is on most roadsides.

Monitors call in litterbug activity, but litterbugs have been difficult to identify and prosecute.

Captain Kevin Ennis said from June 2024 through June 2025, they received 197 reports of litterbug sightings.

From June 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, the county issued three misdemeanor criminal summonses and 15 verbal warnings.

In the game of fighting litter, patrollers, reporters, and clean-up volunteers have lost to The Harnett Litterbugs.

Can litterbugs even read? The county billboard campaign to drive volunteers had no impact, so they do not plan to waste funds again.

Driving down Docs, Nursery, and Ray Roads proved litterbug infestations thrive. Under the sun, cellophane glared near the flashing tin cans, and glass blinked from paper bags.

Longtime Keep Harnett Beautiful volunteer and retired U.S. Army Veteran, Larry Mitchell said the Bunnlevel Erwin Road had a severe case of litterbugs.

“It took thirty days to police Bunnlevel Road,” Mitchell said and added, “Off Nursery Road, there’s a stream with years of litter in the water. I asked soil and water to clean it. It’s going into our water systems.”

There is no charge for furniture or tire disposal at the landfill. Anderson Creek and Dunn Erwin landfills are open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

According to North Carolina law, littering is a crime and is supposed to carry a sizable fine. The minimum fine for a first offense of littering is $250 with maximum fines going as high as $1000.

In Harnett County, first offenders are verbally warned to remove the litter. If they remove the litter, they are not served a misdemeanor criminal summons.

North Carolina law reads that subsequent offenses can bring community service requirements and fines of up to $2000.

See someone littering on the highway? Call *HP to be connected to the nearest Highway Patrol dispatch center.

Report litterbugs through the NCDOT’s Swat-A-Litterbug Program. To learn more about preventing litter, go to Litter Free NC.

Report litterbug sightings here or here, and learn how you can smash litterbugs here, because it will take an army of volunteers to win the battle against The Harnett Litterbugs.

Across America, states and small towns are making strides against litterbugs with various tactics.

Contact Morgan Pope to volunteer and share ideas. mhallenbeck@harnett.org. 910-893-7584

July 30, 2025

Stephanie M. Sellers