Sumter deputies to host community litter cleanup day with city, Palmetto Pride

The Sumter County Sheriff's Office is asking the community to create teams and help clean county roadways with Operation Pride, a joint city-county cleanup day with Palmetto Pride, on April 17.

"I've been getting a lot of complaints about litter in Sumter County," Sheriff Anthony Dennis said.

Litter on Sumter County roadways is a growing concern in the community, and Dennis said he has seen the issue firsthand driving around his county. He, along with his deputies, the City of Sumter and Palmetto Pride, wants to help diminish the issue, especially after the suspension of the local inmate litter pickup program because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Because of the pandemic, we haven't had the litter teams out there in the past with some of the inmates and state Department of Corrections," Dennis said. "One thing I hope has a lot to do with [it is] pride. Being a citizen of Sumter County and wanting to keep it clean, the reason is from last year to now we've seen a big difference in the amount of litter in Sumter County."

The litter pickup will be from 9 a.m. to noon, and the sheriff's office asked that neighborhood watch groups, businesses, organizations and other members of the community create teams and volunteer alongside law enforcement to clean up some of our most affected areas.

Dennis said the roadways to be cleaned up on April 17 will be announced on a later date.

Volunteers should wear bright and reflective clothing to stay visible while working. Gloves, bags and other supplies will be provided at Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce, 32 E. Calhoun St. Volunteers are welcome to bring their own supplies.

This operation will be held in conjunction with the City of Sumter's Community Clean Up Days project. Community members can register a team at www.sumtersc.gov/litter.

For more information, call (803) 436-2010.