Wake County Solid Waste Management and local volunteers participated in a roadside litter cleanup on Rogers Lane in Raleigh during the Greatest American Cleanup event, according to an April 9 announcement. The event, held in partnership with Keep America Beautiful, was one of 20 similar efforts organized across North Carolina.
The cleanup brought together community members like Gus Vandermeeren, known as “Gus the Garbage Guy,” who has lived in Wake County for nearly ten years. Vandermeeren said he began his personal mission to remove roadside litter six years ago after seeing an advertisement about ocean trash. “In January 2020, I was watching TV early one Saturday morning and saw an ad about trash in the ocean,” Vandermeeren said. “Earlier that day I had seen some litter in my neighborhood, so the ad inspired me to pick up a Walmart bag and walk around my neighborhood. The next week, I did the same thing, but with a larger bag. From there it just kept snowballing until going out daily became my hobby and obsession.”
Vandermeeren believes most roadside litter comes from people not securing their loads properly when transporting items by truck or trailer. He emphasized that even small pieces of trash can eventually end up in oceans through storm drains if not disposed of correctly.
Through Meetup events with his group called Pickup Posse, Vandermeeren has worked to involve more people in anti-litter activities but noted challenges such as getting volunteers to focus on collecting larger debris rather than every small item like cigarette butts. He encourages others by rephrasing President John F. Kennedy’s quote: “Ask not what your government can do for you, but what you can do for your world.”
Reflecting on his motivation for continued volunteer work, Vandermeeren said: “Sometimes, on a beautiful, sunny day…I feel connected to the world…Sometimes the feeling is so strong, it almost brings tears to my eyes.” He hopes that by being visible as a volunteer he inspires others to take action.
Wake County officials expressed appreciation for these efforts as well. “People who are passionate about dedicating their time to help improve our county are what make Wake County great,” said Wake County Commissioner Cheryl Stallings. “We are so appreciative of our residents who step up to take on the responsibility of beautifying our roads.” The county offers free litter kits for those interested in organizing cleanups and provides contact information for further questions.
