Cabarrus Today

Nearly 250 employees from the City of Concord participated in a city-wide cleanup, covering over 39 miles of roads and collecting more than 200 bags of trash and 22 bags of recyclables. This initiative was part of the city's annual Winter Litter Sweep. The effort is a component of Concord's broader litter abatement strategy aimed at environmental protection, community enhancement, and improving quality of life.

In addition to regular cleanups by public works crews, staff from various city departments collaborate three times annually for these litter sweeps. Recently, Concord appointed its first Sustainability Coordinator to bolster existing programs on litter abatement and waste reduction. The coordinator will also focus on implementing sustainable practices within city systems and expanding public awareness initiatives.

The city is actively seeking new public engagement programs to maintain clean streets and streams. Residents are encouraged to participate in local cleanup efforts through several initiatives:

- Organizing groups for the Spring Litter Sweep scheduled for April 16-22, 2023

- Joining programs like Adopt a Street, Adopt a Stream, or Clean a Creek

- Using the NCDOT Swat a Litter Bug app

- Utilizing the CARTology app to learn about recycling correctly

Community groups interested in organizing neighborhood litter sweeps can contact Juliann Chavez, Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Concord, at 704-920-5379.