Please help Keep Carter County Beautiful by supporting our efforts.
Clicking on the donate button will redirect you to a secure PayPal site where you can donate through PayPal or Credit Card
When you pick up trash/litter, please take a minute and tell us how much and where. We would like to include your efforts in our reporting to Keep America Beautiful. Click on the button below and you will be redirected to the reporting page:
Many of our events would not be possible without our great sponsors.
Tennessee Covered Load Laws
Every year thousands of motorists are injured or killed on our highways. Even under the best of conditions, driving can be hazardous. Add bad weather or poor road maintenance to the equation and it can be downright dangerous just to go out. One factor that increases the risk associated with driving is road debris. Anyone who has had to swerve to avoid an object in the road understands the danger.
Tennessee State Law requires: “Any motor vehicle that transports litter or any material likely to fall or be blown off onto the highways, shall be required to have such material either in an enclosed space or fully covered by a tarpaulin.” Were you aware that this includes Pickup Trucks? You should also know that violating this law is punishable by a $500 fine and community service. If you see unsafe loads driving our roads please get the license plate number and submit it to the Tennessee Department of Transportation by clicking on the button below.
Keep Carter County Beautiful and Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Wildflower Plots
Keep Carter County Beautiful and Elizabethton Parks and Recreation team up to provide beautiful wildflower plots in Carter County. Every year in spring Elizabethton Parks and Recreation tills the soil and Keep Carter County Beautiful Board Members and their families plant wildflower seeds. We are making spring and summer in East Tennessee more beautiful every year. The plots don’t look like much in early spring but look at the flowers from last year. A little cooperation from Mother Nature and watch Carter County bloom.
Elizabethton High School AP Environmental Studies Program creates wildflower seed packets for distribution to the public
Keep Carter County Beautiful (KCCB) and the Elizabethton High School AP Environmental class (EHS AP) team up to provide wildflower seed packets to the public. KCCB provides the supplies and the EHS AP class designs the labels and creates the wildflower seed packets. Thank you to all our students for learning the importance of saving our environment. Carter County birds and pollinators will be very happy again this year. The wildflower packets are being handed out to residents at Elizabethton Parks and Recreation events and at local businesses. Hope everyone enjoys planting some beautiful wildflowers. Thank you Elizabethton High School AP Environmental Studies for beautifying Carter County and helping our pollinators.
Keep Carter County Beautiful and Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Tree Planting
Keep Carter County Beautiful and Elizabethton Parks and Recreation partner to plant beautiful mature indigenous trees. We plant redbud, dogwood and service berry trees at Kiwanis Park, Riverside Park, Mill Race Park and on the Tweetsie Trail. The trees will provide beauty, shade and homes to birds and pollinators.
Keep Carter County Beautiful participates in the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Adopt-A-Highway program
Every spring, summer, fall and winter you can find a Keep Carter County Beautiful (KCCB) volunteer out on our adopted highway (Milligan Highway). Nothing is more important to a community’s appearance than clean roads. Our roads are the first and last thing visitors see. Did you know 80% of the trash in our waterways originates from trash thrown on the road.
Thank you Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) for providing trash bags and picking up the trash after each event. It is great to have partners like TDOT.
If you travel on Milligan Highway please do not litter and if you see someone littering, get a picture and report it. Littering in Tennessee is a $500 fine and a $50 reward for anyone providing evidence leading to a conviction.
Exercising on the Tweetsie Trail
I spent a good portion of my life as a runner and when not running you could find me on my bike. I always thought it was my responsibility to keep the trails clean and enjoyable for others. After years of using the trails and roads I came to the realization that not everyone thinks the way I do.
We need the help of every person who uses the Tweetsie Trail. While you are out walking, running or biking stop bend over and pick up that trash. Those that are throwing the trash on the trail STOP!
Did you know that littering is a $500 fine and community service. Is it really worth the risk when a trash can is just down the road? Please stop trashing our beautiful county. Anyone providing information leading to a conviction for littering can get a $50 reward. Let’s all work to stop the trashing our beautiful trails, waterways and roads.
Daniel French receives Community Recognition for his years of service
Daniel French has been volunteering at Keep Carter County Beautiful events for years. His positive outlook on life is contagious. On December 14, 2023 the Elizabethton City Council recognized Daniel’s dedication to improving our community. Thank you, Daniel from the whole community. You make Carter County a better place to live!
Volunteers make our community beautiful! Keep Carter County Beautiful is a great place for students to fulfill their community service requirements.
Ever wonder what makes one community seem so much nicer than another. I think it has to do with the people. Some people see a need and complain that something should be done, or they think it’s someone else’s problem. Other people see a need and jump right in to help. I think what makes one community better than another is its volunteers. One such volunteer is Suzette Clark.
Since moving to Carter County Suzette has been going out on her own and removing trash from the roads, parks and trails. She saw an issue and set about solving it. If you see Suzette out on the roads or in the parks in her safety vest picking up trash, please let her know how much you appreciate her support. Better yet follow her example and volunteer yourself.
If you are or have a High School student in your house be aware that working with Keep Carter County Beautiful can fulfill your community service requirement.
Keep Carter County Beautiful provides recycle bins for Parks and Recreation Events
If you attended any of the great Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Events at the Covered Bridge Park, you may have noticed something new. KCCB volunteers have been handing out free swag and providing conservation information. They also have been setting up recycle bins and collecting them afterward.
Keep in mind the recycle bins are for Aluminum Cans and Plastic bottles. You can also place those plastics marked type 1 and 2 in the bins. You should not be placing styrofoam cups, trash or food waste in the recycle bins. Please help us recycle responsibly.
Please stop and view this very important video from the Tennessee Clean Act. I urge you to act now!
Please do not ignore this issue. Litter and trash impacts all of our lives and only we can fix it. Keep Carter County Beautiful is not a political organization, but I urge you to call, write or email your local and state representatives. Act now to save our beautiful state. You can click on the logo below and the website will help you with your message.
Enjoy all Carter County Tennessee has to offer
