WIGGINS — Litter is piling up along the Magnolia State’s rural roads, and the state is struggling to keep up.

According to the Mississippi Department of Transportation, the state’s litter rate along rural highways is 30% higher than the national average.

Each year, Mississippi spends more than $3.2 million cleaning litter from state highways. That figure doesn’t include local or volunteer efforts to maintain county and city roads. MDOT Executive Director Brad White told the Center for Environmental Excellence the money could be used to build and maintain roads and bridges instead.

“We do get phone calls from people who will remind us that in all their travels they just don’t see as much litter as what we have here,” said Joy Lines, the litter prevention coordinator for MDOT District 6.

In Stone County, the problem is especially visible along U.S. 49. County Administrator Ryan Merrill said most of the litter is concentrated on major corridors, but pockets of rural trash can be found throughout the county.

Trash takes a toll on daily life

Tammy Smith, a nearby resident, said she gets angry every time she drives into town.

“I’ve seen people throw cups and I mean, just trash out in the street, out of their windows, and it just makes me mad,” she said. “Why in God’s green earth do they want to throw it out in the street? If they’re going to drink their fountain drinks or eat their hamburgers or whatever, throw it in the backseat of their car and take it home with them.”

According to a national study by Keep America Beautiful, the U.S. had nearly 50 billion pieces of litter along roadways and waterways in 2020 — the equivalent of 152 pieces per resident.

In Mississippi, $4.9 billion was spent on litter removal in 2024, according to MDOT.

Beyond being unsightly, litter can have serious environmental consequences. Animals may become entangled in plastic or mistake it for food, leading to injury or death. Ducks, deer, turtles and dolphins are among the species most impacted.

Trash can also create hazards for drivers. According to MDOT, unsecured loads contribute to nearly 25,000 crashes and 80 deaths across the U.S. each year.

Some of the most persistent litter is never removed. MDOT reports that 24% of litter is left to degrade over time, and another 17% is buried under soil or vegetation.

Cleanup programs step in where funding falls short

To keep roads clean, the state operates several cleanup initiatives. Data from 2022 and 2024 shows the growing impact of those programs:

2022

— Adopt-a-Highway: 4,299 bags collected.

— “Trash Bash” events: 6,398 bags collected.

— Inmate Litter Program: 161,359 bags collected.

2024

— Adopt-a-Highway: 4,845 bags collected.

— “Trash Bash” events: 6,140 bags collected.

— Inmate Litter Program: 169,817 bags collected.

District 6 alone collected over 72,000 bags of trash last year. Merrill said Stone County spends nearly $1.3 million a year on solid waste but has no dedicated program to address litter, though county leaders are exploring options to encourage residents to take more responsibility.

“I would like to see people take their own initiative to take the litter and dispose of it where it’s supposed to,” Smith said.

MDOT also supports education through programs like Myrtle the Turtle, which teaches children in grades K-5 about litter prevention. In cities like Hattiesburg, campaigns such as “Don’t Be a Litterburg” reinforce anti-littering behavior through public messaging.

Laws exist, but catching litterbugs isn’t easy

State lawmakers introduced legislation in 2025 to strengthen penalties for illegal dumping, but the proposals didn’t pass. The bills would have increased fines and expanded penalties for commercial or large-volume dumping.

Under current law, those convicted of littering face fines between $50 and $250. Offenders must also perform cleanup work, and a portion of the fine supports community causes, such as the Law Enforcement Officers Monument Fund and scholarships for families of fallen or disabled first responders.

Lines said enforcement remains a challenge.

“We’re always working with law enforcement. They’re an important part of what we do,” she said. “But a lot of times they have to see something happening before they’re permitted to actually find anyone.”

Despite growing community involvement and agency-led cleanup efforts, Mississippi’s litter problem shows no signs of slowing. Without more resources or responsibility at the individual level, officials warn the issue is likely to persist.