Looking for wins in the war against litter

Published 4:32 am Saturday, February 21, 2026

Some time ago, as I was traveling far from home, a Meridian acquaintance called with a disconcerting report from Poplar Springs Drive.

“Did you know that someone has thrown trash in your front yard?”

My reply: “It happens fairly often, I’ll pick it up after I return.”

“I don’t think you understand,” he added. “Looks like someone has dumped a large bag of garbage in your yard. I’ll stop and clean it up.”

I was embarrassed that he had to gather a pile of who-knows-what from my lawn, probably launched from a vehicle window. He had far better things to do.

This became a new low point in my unending frustration with those who think they can trash a public or private space because it’s convenient.

Littering and random discarding of other debris is a longstanding issue, certainly not confined to Meridian (and Lauderdale County). The state’s “Don’t Trash Mississippi” campaign has long emphasized how millions of dollars spent cleaning up roadside litter could be used to actually improve roads and bridges.

Competing with many proud local cultural traits is an un-proud one, a seemingly wide tolerance for littering that damages perceptions of our community. This glaring show of disrespect occurs daily.

But there’s good news to report on this front in Meridian, a smattering of breakthroughs. This is happening at various levels.

Mayor Percy Bland and his administration have given priority to cleanup sweeps, with Public Works and Community Development teams participating. Officials also openly warn of high fines for those caught littering.

In this broad effort, Community Development Director Terrell Thompson sees clear benefits for economic development and neighborhood renewal. Even tossing a cigarette butt crosses the line, he says; it all starts with small things.

“If you have a neighborhood where there’s no (visible) sense of pride, people will find other places to go,” he said. “You’ve got to deal with the litter.”

For the past few years, Municipal Court Judge Dustin Markham has used a City Court Beautification Team to carry out litter removal and other community projects. The program allows alternative “service” sentencing for individuals facing city fines or jail time, and Markham personally oversees groups participating in weekend litter cleanup drives.

“Anytime you have somebody that’s willing to go out and make the community better, you’re making progress,” said the judge and practicing lawyer.

Cleanup efforts launched by schools, churches and other organizations also can help turn the corner, sending a message with their visibility. Led by Scoutmaster Kendrick Prewitt and others, Boy Scouts from Troop 2, based at Central United Methodist Church, days ago cleaned up a litter-plagued stretch of 33rd Street near 10th Avenue. The effort landed a “huge shoutout” from the popular online Scotty Ray Report.

“There’s nothing more satisfying than to see a place that’s cleaner than you found it,” said Prewitt, a University of West Alabama history and English department chair who lives in Meridian. There are “aesthetic” and “ethical” aspects to this kind of service by Scouts, he said.

At an even more grassroots level are anti-litter warriors like Jerry Edmonds, a Meridian native who lives in Collinsville. Edmonds, a retired Meridian city building inspector and Navy veteran, owns property in the area just north of Highland Park and for years has picked up litter.

Neighbors “thought I was crazy at first,” but now they seem to be taking more pride in their properties, Edmonds said. “When people come through, they get a sense of who you are by the way it looks.”

Coleman Warner is a journalist and cultural historian, and can be contacted at legacypress.warner@gmail.com.