“Don’t Drop It On Alabama,” a statewide, spring cleanup program orchestrated by Alabama People Against a Littered State (PALS), kicks off on Saturday, April 21 and lasts until the following Saturday, April 28.

In that time, residents can pick up bags at the Marengo County Courthouse and pick up litter and debris. Other cleanup supplies available include window decals, ad slicks to promote cleanup efforts, Alabama PALS program brochures and reporting forms.

According to Spencer Ryan, executive vice president of Alabama PALS, “Don’t Drop It On Alabama” started three years ago with the participation of four or five counties. This year, there are 65 counties participating in the program, and Alabama PALS has distributed approximately 200,000 bags.

“It’s grown into a statewide effort right now,” he said.

In 2016, over 360 tons were collected during the cleanup week, which saved counties and taxpayers the money it would have taken to hire someone to collect it.

Aside from the money saved, Ryan said that Alabama benefits from the cleanup efforts because it helps to eliminate some traffic accidents and gives a sense of pride to the communities involved, which attracts businesses.

Ryan said that Alabama PALS is “trying to get people and students heading in a different direction with cleanliness and recycling.”

This year’s “Don’t Drop It On Alabama” is sponsored by Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Vulcan Materials Company, Alfa Insurance, Alabama Department of Transportation, Associations of County Commissions of Alabama, Quality Co-Op Products and Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC.

Other Alabama PALS programs include Adopt-a-Mile, Adopt-an-Area, Adopt-a-Stream, Coastal Clean-up and Clean Campus. To pick up an Alabama PALS bag and other cleanup materials, go to County Administrator Meredith Hammond’s office at the Marengo County Courthouse.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, April 18 issue of the Demopolis Times.)