Stormwater SMART coordinates litter clean-up in Davidson County for NC Big Sweep. An award-winning 501c3 nonprofit, North Carolina Big Sweep’s purpose is to rid our environment of litter by promoting environmental education and coordinating an annual statewide cleanup. Our mission is important because:

• Litter is a human health hazard when it attracts disease-carrying mosquitoes or rodents. As litter decomposes, it leaches chemicals into our groundwater. People are injured by accidentally stepping on broken glass or other litter.
• When wildlife mistake litter for food, it can suffocate them or clog their digestive tracts. Many will slowly starve to death because real food can’t get past the debris they ate. Wildlife often become entangled in litter. Once entangled, they are rarely able to free themselves, and they often attract other wildlife to the same hazard.
• Litter also hurts our economy. Businesses don’t want to locate in trashy areas. Tourists won’t linger in trashy areas. They won’t spend money, and they won’t return with their friends.
• Because the primary source of trash in our waters tends to be debris that is picked up from stormwater run-off, it is important to pick up trash before it enters our water.

If you would like to help with the annual cleanup, please visit the Volunteer Sign Up page.