JASPER, Tenn. - The Marion County Chamber of Commerce is organizing to combat littering, and the organization wants the public's help.
Chamber President Jamie Lawson said everyone would probably say that they're against littering.
"But if you look out on the side of the road, it doesn't look quite like that's always the case," he said.
At a recent chamber meeting, officials with Colonial Chemical in New Hope, Tenn., said workers picked up 24 "industrial-sized" bags of trash along a one- to two-mile stretch of State Route 156 near that business.
"They do that four times a year, and every time, they get about the same amount, if not more," Lawson said.
That report spurred chamber members to address the problem more formally.
"It affects businesses that are here," Lawson said. "It affects visitors to our community. It affects people wanting to come in and start a business here. I don't think people intentionally do it. I don't think that they think of the ramifications of it."
The chamber formed an anti-littering committee to explore ways to combat the issue.
Last week the Marion County Commission unanimously approved a resolution recognizing and supporting the chamber's efforts to bring awareness to and address littering problems in the county.
"The chamber is taking a big step forward in trying to come up with plans and ideas to curb our litter problems throughout the county," County Mayor David Jackson said. "We appreciate them taking on this effort. It's a major problem in our county."
Litter crews worked recently to clean up trash along Valley View Highway in Jasper, he said, and he followed the route just a week later.
"I was up that way this morning," Jackson said. "You already see some stuff that's already being thrown back out on the side of the road."
The chamber's initiative will explore getting the local school system involved as well as other local organizations.
"We want to encourage churches, fire departments, civic groups, residents and whoever to help with this problem," Jackson said. "If you see it going on, let the authorities know because it's not only detrimental to health, it's detrimental when trying to recruit new businesses and industry in our county. It does not help us."
Lawson said he hopes some good will come from the chamber's initiative.
"If we can do anything to help alleviate this, then I think we should do it," he said.
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.