NASHVILLE - Bean Station’s Tony Kaufman lived up to his nickname recently when he was recognized by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) for his efforts in the battle against litter. Known as “Tony the Trash Man,” Kauffman received TDOT’s 2007 Award of Excellence for community volunteerism.
The award was given at a conference held in Memphis by the Department of Transportation in partnership with Keep Tennessee Beautiful (KTnB), and as part of the designation, $1,000 was added to the fund for this year’s cleanup day event, “Keep Grainger Beautiful” and picnic scheduled to take place Saturday, March 24.
Although Grainger County is not officially affiliated with (KAB) Keep America Beautiful, Kaufmann threw Grainger’s hat in the ring for the state conference awards when he read the criteria and realized Grainger County had a good shot.
“A Grainger County KAB program is in the plans but it costs to join. So far, we’ve done well without asking the county for money and we’re proud of that. The community has really stepped up and made this happen,” Kaufmann said.
When a local KAB is established, the group plans to seek out the national recognition awards in order to win more funds. Increased funding would enable them to both do more and reach more people through advertising. They’d also like to get over the mountain to Washburn and Thorn Hill, Kaufmann explained.
The March cleanup event now combines the Cherokee Lake Clean-up with the national KAB event, the Great American Clean-up in order to expand opportunities for involvement beyond the shoreline and into the communities and roadways. The annual Cherokee Lake Clean-up has been going on since the Cherokee Lake User Association was chartered in 1992 but in 2005, Kaufmann was appointed director of the User’s Association and since then, the lake cleanup’s volunteers have doubled annually. “The turnout has expanded mostly by word-of-mouth and thanks to our reliable return volunteers,” he said. Kaufmann repeatedly praised the many individuals, groups, communities, utilities, the Chamber of Commerce, and the public officials that have supported and taken part in the cleanups and said, “Grainger County is a beautiful Godgiven place, and it’s just filled with wonderful people. When people find out about the cleanup and they come together and help out, they end up having a great time working side-by-side, getting to know one another. It’s a great way to keep it positive. If everyone would get involved, it would make a tremendous difference, even if they just pray for us to have a good day.”
Kaufmann said laws are changing in Tennessee that should help cut down on the litter problem. “People are starting to change their attitudes about the litter laws,” he said. “Memphis Environmental Court Judge Larry Potter, won the highest award in his field at the December national KAB conference and pointed out that the problem with the lack of enforcement of the law may just be the laws themselves. The way it is now, our officers don’t want to enforce the litter laws to the extent that they could because they’re too harsh,” said Kaufmann. “There’s a big difference between someone who tosses a wrapper on the ground without thinking and someone who dumps several tons of material in a ravine somewhere; one is a deliberate violation of the law, the other might be simple carelessness or accidental. But the way it’s been, they’re treated the same. Potter and Governor Phil Bredesen are currently drafting changes to the law. Hopefully, if the punishment fits the gravity of the crime, it will encourage better enforcement when the penalty for careless littering is along the lines of a seatbelt ticket. That’s a lot more reasonable.”
A new tactic has been devised by KTnB’s StopLitter program: as of January, citizens who witness littering from a vehicle, whether it’s a cigarette or cup thrown out of a window, or an item falling from an unsecured load, may call 1-877-8-LITTER (877-854-8837) and report the following details:
• license plate number (Tennessee plates only);
• type and make of the vehicle;
• day and time the incident occurred;
• location where the incident occurred; and
• the type of item tossed or blown from the vehicle
TDOT will then mail a letter to the registered owner of the vehicle along with a StopLitter™ car trash bag or portable ashtray and other antilitter information, reminding the recipient that littering is against the law and punishable by a fine of up to $1,500 and six months of litter duty.
Kaufmann said, “I think educating people does the most good. I’d rather not point the finger at anyone in particular. Alot of people who have littered are probably not thinking about what they’re doing. Something like this just helps to make them more aware. It costs Tennessee over $11 million every year to pick up litter off the ground. Every little bit of trash adds up.”
Keep Grainger Beautiful Day organizers are seeking site coordinators for various areas of the county. Those interested may call Tony Kaufmann at (865) 767-3132, or email cleanupgrainger@msn.com.
