Article printed in Denton Record-Chronicle
June 2002

For the past four months, we have discussed litter--why Denton has its fair share of it and what we as a community can do about it. Last month, we briefly touched on the idea that a littered, unkempt community is detrimental to positive growth and economic development.

Following is an excerpt from an article titled "When Attracting Businesses, First Impressions Count" from the March 2002 issue of Fiscal Notes, a publication of the Texas Comptroller's Office. It contained the opinions of several experts statewide regarding the connection between community cleanliness and economic development. Heather Richardson, Director of Corporate Expansion and Recruitment with the Texas Department of Economic Development states that there is a "strong link between a community's focus on cleaning and beautifying its streets and parks and its ability to lure new industry. When choosing a site to expand or open a new plant or operation, companies look at an entire community, not just the potential building site."

Bill Wellborn, President and CEO of the Lufkin/Angelina County Economic Development Partnership states that "to make a home for world-class companies you have to have a world-class community. If you look at trying to attract new business and industry, you need to have a clean and neat community."

In the city's 1999 'Raise the Bar' survey, citizens cited their top 10 litter complaint areas. They were:

Nationally, it has been shown that people litter for three basic reasons:

• They feel no sense of ownership or investment in the community. Although areas such as medians, parks, and beaches are public property owned by all taxpayers. (This may explain why 16-24 year olds are the group most likely to litter. As non-property owners and non-taxpayers, how do we teach young people to feel a sense of community responsibility? How does Denton help university students feel invested in a community they are not from?)
• They believe someone else-a park maintenance or highway worker- will pick up after them. (This is very expensive. Do we want to continue to subsidize the carelessness or laziness of litterers and illegal dumpers?)
• Litter has already accumulated in an area, and so they add to it. (The thinking is 'its already bad, so what difference will it make if I add to the mess.' Litter is a symptom of neighborhood deterioration.)

In the last two columns, many tips were given to homeowners, renters, and businesses to help decrease litter. These articles as well as disposal sites and KDB's 'Clean Business' manual can be found at www.kdb.org.

To report illegal dumping in the City of Denton, call Officer Mike Sweet at the 'Illegal Dumping and Litter Abatement' hotline at (940) 484-JUNK (5865).

Next month, I will list free and inexpensive services offered to residents by the City of Denton and local businesses to help properly dispose of bulky items, appliances, tires, etc.

Littering and illegal dumping negatively impact the welfare of our community. It is in our best interest to do what it takes to bring about a clean Denton.

Lancine Bentley is the Program Manager for Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc. She was the recipient of the 1998 Outstanding Woman of the Year award from the Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women in Fort Worth. She can be reached at (940) 349-7770 or at lancine.bentley@cityofdenton.com.