County Clean Road Centers
				At far too many locations across the Oklahoma countryside, large bulky wastes like mattresses, washers, refrigerators and other furniture and household appliances can be found dumped along back roads and in secluded sites. While enforcement efforts have improved over the last few years and cleanup of existing illegal dumps continues, many local government officials realize that providing convenient alternatives to illegal disposal can reduce the roadside dumping problem that degrades our landscape. One such alternative meeting with success is that of the Clean Road Center.
		Clean Road Centers are small, solid waste collection facilities located at convenient sites in rural areas that provide a responsible alternative to the kind of dumping some people do at the ditch. Fenced and monitored for site security and available for public use at no or little cost, they are intended to be a cost-effective alternative for use by local governments that otherwise must collect illegally dumped items from the roadside.
		When planned, constructed, and implemented with care, these waste collection sites can make a strong, positive impact on area dumping problems. In most situations, the construction and equipping of these sites are eligible for funding from state grant programs.
		As these Centers become common and increase the availability of convenient, affordable disposal options, dumping will diminish. Rural Oklahoma will regain the unspoiled image attracting visitors to our natural areas.
		The Solid Waste Institute is working to promote and assist the development of Clean Road Centers. Contact us or visit our Resources page to obtain a development guide that can help communities move through the process of planning and creating a system of Clean Road Centers for their areas.
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