Watt attends Zero Tolerance for Litter Conference in Columbia

Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Jimmy Watt represented the Sheriff’s Office last week at the “Zero Tolerance for Litter” press conference held on the Statehouse ground in Columbia. Law enforcement officers and officials from around the state attended the press conference.  The Sheriff’s Office is participating in the “Zero Tolerance for Litter” campaign in the month of April as part of its ongoing efforts to combat the problem of litter in Oconee County. In June of 2001, South Carolina Litter Control Association and Palmetto Pride joined forces.  Both organizations use a four-point attack: education, awareness, enforcement, and pick-up.  By doing so, there is a 59% reduction of trash on our highways.  “The one thing that I heard and saw that was so encouraging was the talk about building partnerships,” according to Watt.  “Our vision statement talks about building partnerships to promote a safer community.  The partnerships we have built with the Keep Oconee Beautiful Association, Solid Waste, and now with Palmetto Pride and the South Carolina Litter Control Association will continue to place litter control at the top of our agenda.” Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw has made litter enforcement an everyday part of the Office’s activities, even beyond the Sheriff’s Office participation in the “Zero Tolerance for Litter” campaign for the month of April.