The Tennessee Department of Transportation is enhancing its efforts to engage youth in community cleanups by introducing a new patch aimed at encouraging Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts to keep their neighborhoods free of litter. The "Trashsquatch" patch is part of TDOT's Nobody Trashes Tennessee litter prevention campaign, specifically for scouts completing their second cleanup service project. Scouts participating in their first project will still receive the campaign's original logo patch., as per the announcement from TDOT.
Brittany Morris, TDOT's Transportation Program Supervisor, revealed that the patch program, which launched in 2023, found a warm reception among scout groups. "We launched our patch program last year and it was widely received by scout groups throughout the state," Morris stated in the announcement. The roll-out aligns with the upcoming No Trash November, an annual event that gets Tennesseans involved in cleanups across the state.
The initiative isn't just for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. TDOT is open to involving additional youth service groups in the education and patch program. Last year's No Trash November saw a significant volunteer turnout, with more than 2,200 participants clearing over 86,000 pounds of litter from Tennessee's roadways. TDOT and its partners hope this year's involvement of scouts will further bolster the cleanup efforts.
All Girl Scout councils and all six Boy Scouts of America councils in Tennessee are working with Nobody Trashes Tennessee on the litter prevention initiative. Following their cleanup events, participating organizations will receive the new patches free of charge. Morris is optimistic about the campaign's potential impact, stating, "This year, with the help of participating scouts – and with Trashsquatch cheering them on – we aim to grow the initiative's reach even more," as reported by TDOT.
