Conservation Corner: June 21, 1999

Litter Is Not Free
by James L. Cummins

Several years ago I was in Bismark, North Dakota, at the Annual Meeting of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. That is the international organization that represents state agencies such as the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. I had to make a presentation on the conservation provisions of the 1996 Farm Bill.

While I was there, I was shocked to see that there was no trash on the road sides and in the streets of Bismark. It and North Dakota were the cleanest city and state I had ever seen.

On the other hand, in Mississippi, we have trashy road sides and streets. It is as if we don't care about how our surroundings look to us or other people.

The Mississippi Legislature recognized this problem. In 1988 the legislature passed a bill authorizing "Keep Mississippi Beautiful/People Against Litter". The program is not-for-profit and operates under a 17-person Board of Directors.

Its goals are to encourage communities in Mississippi to become part of the Keep America Beautiful System, assist communities in establishing litter prevention and education programs, coordinate an annual awards program and serve as a clearing house of information on ideas and projects.

Information ranges from prevention, which is most important, to litter cleanup and recycling. Information is free.

Funding for the program is, in part, through a contract with the Mississippi Department of Transportation. It also receives support from many public and private companies, as well as individuals who recognize the need for a clean and beautiful state. Having a clean state is not only important for a quality environment, but a healthy economy too.

Let's say you have a large building to rent. Would you invite a potential manufacturer to come to your building and your office when you have not even cleaned it up. I mean there are old newspapers and coffee cups laying around. Trash is abundant. Files are stacked high and out of place.

How your building looks to the potential manufacturer plays an important role in the way Mississippians are perceived. It shows pride, or a lack of pride. If the manufacturer came to our state on an exploratory mission for an 800 person factory and saw the way your office, building and surroundings look, what do you think he would derive about Mississippi's work ethic and quality of work?

Let's clean up our act. It's not free.

For more information on Keep Mississippi Beautiful/People Against Litter, they can be contacted at 4785 I-55 North, Suite 103, Jackson, MS 39206. They can be reached by telephone by calling (601) 362-9099 or 1-800-545-3784.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.