Think Before You Toss - Litter Piles Up Into a Big Problem! See the PDF of the City of Memphis Storm Water Program March Press Release.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tasha King-Davis, 636-4349, tasha.king@memphistn.gov
Think Before You Toss – Litter Piles Up Into a Big Problem
Memphis, TN (March 8, 2017) – Tossing your drink cup or food wrapper into the street or onto a sidewalk can earn you a fine for littering, but it also leads to more serious problems. Besides being unsightly, the litter can create blockages in storm drains leading to neighborhood flooding.
In addition, storm water carrying the litter flows from street inlets through the drainage system and discharges into local creeks and rivers and eventually into McKellar Lake or the Mississippi River. Litter poses a serious threat to aquatic life by being mistaken for food and by destroying their habitat. In addition to the environmental hazards, no one enjoys seeing litter along the water’s edge.
The Storm Water Program strives to educate the public about the negative impact of littering. The Program also encourages and supports neighborhood clean-up efforts by providing trash bags, gloves and other materials. These clean-up projects can include marking curbside drains with “storm water only” placards. All of these endeavors will assist in minimizing the litter problem, but we also need the help of every citizen of Memphis, because only YOU can ELIMINATE LITTER.
PLEASE! BE PROUD OF YOUR CITY. HELP KEEP OUR WATERWAYS CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL.
For more information about neighborhood clean-ups, contact: Tasha King-Davis, City of Memphis, 636-4349