HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – The City of Hopkinsville is dedicated to maintaining cleanliness and addressing roadside litter through initiatives such as Trash for Cash. With one month left in the program for 2024, participants have collected 23,345 pounds of trash this year. Heather Braun, the Beautification Coordinator, reports that over 150 miles have been covered and 667 bags of trash have been collected.

“The litter problem in Hopkinsville is fairly complex,” said Braun. “There are some areas of town where residents take great pride in their area and there is no litter to be found. You can go in the opposite direction though and find many problem hotspots with a habitual litter problem.”

Braun explained there will probably always be a litter problem in Hopkinsville but programs like Trash for Cash, Adopt-A-Street, Yard of the Month aim to help keep litter under control. With Trash for Cash, volunteers are paid $75 to $150 per mile to pick up litter.

Hopkinsville’s commitment, continued clean up

The city expresses their commitment to keeping Hopkinsville clean as part of their Growing Home plan. “This year, we’ve taken additional steps by adding two new Groundskeeper positions in our budget, specifically focused on maintaining and enhancing the cleanliness of our downtown area. These initiatives reflect our dedication to creating a vibrant and welcoming environment for all our residents and visitors,” said Mayor J.R. Knight.

Braun added that when members of the community are involved with these programs, they are helping to make Hopkinsville a more beautiful place to live. “People tend to notice the areas that are being taken care of, and many of the people who participate in these programs speak with others about them, which helps to spread awareness,” she said.

With grant money from the Kentucky Division of Waste Management available to cover 54 more miles of trash cleanup, Trash for Cash plans to continue through the end of September. However, Braun hopes litter lessens throughout the community even in the months they are not active. “It is definitely a slow process, but we have already made steps towards improvement, and we plan to continue forward.”

For more information or to get involved with Trash for Cash, contact Heather Braun at heather.braun@h-ky.us or by calling 270-890-0703.