Cabarrus Today

The City of Concord recently saw a significant cleanup effort as nearly 400 city employees collected over 400 bags of trash during the annual Spring Litter Sweep. This event, held from April 19-23, was part of the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s statewide campaign. Employees covered more than 80 miles of roads, gathering 438 bags of trash and 52 bags of recyclables.

Assistant City Manager LeDerick Blackburn highlighted the increased participation this year: “We encouraged all of the city departments to increase their level of participation in this year’s litter sweep campaign and they responded in a tremendous way.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining focus on litter issues beyond the campaign, aiming for continuous community engagement and commitment to litter abatement.

Blackburn is leading a new initiative aimed at improving the city's approach to litter management. His team has reviewed existing regulations and programs to identify areas for enhancement. The findings have led to a comprehensive strategy developed after discussions during the January 2021 City Council Planning Session. These efforts are driven by concerns about increasing litter since the pandemic began.

Residents are encouraged to participate in keeping Concord clean through various initiatives such as organizing volunteer sweeps or joining programs like Adopt a Street, Adopt a Stream, or Clean a Creek. The NCDOT Swat a Litter Bug app and CARTology app offer additional resources for proper recycling practices.

Community groups interested in neighborhood cleanup efforts can contact Katherine Ramirez, Community Outreach Coordinator for the City of Concord, at 704-920-5298.