'Let's clean up this county:' Inmates pick up 78 bags of trash in Robeson County

ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WPDE) — The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Roadside Litter Pickup Program has started back up again following a pause due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Deputies posted about the program starting back up on Facebook over the weekend, claiming inmates picked up 78 full bags of trash.

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In the post, the sheriff's office states that "We can’t sit idly by and continue to use COVID as an excuse. Please do your part and let’s clean up this county as quickly as possible."

The full post read as follows:

Hello everyone. As you all know, our roadsides are full of trash and sadly it’s because of our own citizens and residents of our county. Just today on Mt. Olive Church Road between Rennert Road and the church, inmates picked up 78 full bags of trash. Lots of it was in ditches and alongside the road but the bulk of it was at the bridge and on the waters edge. We will be back tomorrow morning to complete the pickup there to the intersection at Saddletree Road.

In saying this, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Roadside Litter Pickup Program has started back. We had been delayed and postponed due to COVID. We can’t sit idly by and continue to use COVID as an excuse. Please do your part and let’s clean up this county as quickly as possible. Safely gather up friends, civic groups and other volunteers, social distance, wear mask and gloves and start efforts in your community. We will continue to do what we can but there is absolutely no way that a group of 5 inmates can clean up this entire county. Our office, to include deputies, detention officers and civilian staff are planning a volunteer participation effort to clean up some areas soon. If we can do it, so can you.

In closing, I would like to thank Chick-Fil-A for the mid morning breakfast for my team and also thank the dozens upon dozens of residents that came thru thanking us for our efforts. I am attaching a link for more information as to how you can help. Thanks everyone and please be safe this weekend.