The Chattanooga City Council is asking the municipality to find ways to improve litter cleanup — which may include carving out new positions for people to do so.
The council passed a resolution unanimously Tuesday night directing Mayor Tim Kelly’s administration to create a strategy to address litter problems in Chattanooga. The ask, spearheaded by council member Ron Elliott of Missionary Ridge, includes a suggestion to either contract out or fund internal positions specifically dedicated to cleanup.
Currently, trash on roads or public property is handled by a team within the Public Works Department, according to department spokesperson Errol Williams — though the staffers also handle other duties like brush and bulk trash.
The Code Enforcement Department fields reports of litter on private property. About 400 litter code violations have been reported in 2026, according to city data. Parks officials have also noted in the past that there is a dedicated custodial team for the city’s riverfront parks. The team’s duties include litter cleanup as well as emptying trash cans.
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