County kicks off anti-litter campaign

From left, Fountain Inn Mayor G.P. McLeer, Laurens Mayor Nathan Senn, Clinton Mayor Bob McLean, County Council Chairman Brown Patterson sign ceremonial litter ordinances along with Keep South Carolina Beautiful State Leader Mallory Coffey.

Laurens County officially kicked off an anti-litter campaign Tuesday afternoon, gathering local leaders for the announcement of a countywide partnership and creation of a Litter Prevention Task Force.

The mayors of Laurens (Nathan Senn), Clinton (Bob McLean) and Fountain Inn (G.P. McLeer) and Laurens County Council Chairman Brown Patterson signed ceremonial ordinances mirroring one another in scope and enforcement designed to crack down on litterers across the county.

“It’s great that we can all work together, and I’m excited about all the great things happening in Laurens County, and we will continue to work together,” Patterson said. “On this momentous occasion we’re attacking our littler problem. We’re putting our money where our mouth is, and we’re going to fix this problem in our community.”

The formation of the Litter Prevention Task Force will include a full-time litter patrol officer with the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office as well as a full-time coordinator to oversee education initiatives and volunteer recruitment and coordination. The programs will include education initiatives in schools and in the community as well as tougher, uniform penalties for litters.

By joining forces with Palmetto Pride, a statewide agency that focuses on beautification and cleanup initiatives, Laurens County also joins the Keep South Carolina Beautiful campaign.

“We applaud your hard work and commend you all on following your four-pronged approach we have proven to be effective time and time again,” said Mallory Coffey, state leader for Keep South Carolina Beautiful. “Today, you all are making history in the Palmetto State.”