The litter control program is a community service program run directly out of the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.  Unlike established community service programs, this program does not just work with court ordered Community Service Workers.

 In a first-in-Virginia effort, the litter control program gives non-violent, first-time offenders a chance to perform community service before they have been arrested.  If these first-time offenders complete their community service, they will not be arrested or charged.

This one-time offer gives these offenders a chance to correct their mistake while performing a vital community service. It also saves time and money for law enforcement and the courts. It is available only for offenders with no prior criminal history, who have not been in the program before, and who have committed the following crimes:

• Possession of marijuana
• Underage possession of alcohol
• Driving on a suspended license
• Littering

This program represents a significant cost savings to the citizens because all labor performed is free.  It also benefits the citizens in a number of ways:

• it cleans up the county
• it increases public awareness of the ongoing litter issue, and
• it provides the opportunity for the offenders to give back to the community

In 2020, the program removed removed over 39,672 pounds of trash. During COVID, it implemented an innovative method of assigning, logging and tracking trash pickup. Now, participants can be assigned to various "hotspots" for regular pickups to keep Augusta looking clean

In 2019, the program exceeded the previous year in nearly every metric. In 2019, the program removed over 36,841 pounds of trash, 410 tires over nearly 200 miles of County roads.

From the program's inception in March 2018 to December 2018, the litter control program removed over 12,400 pounds of trash, 71 tires, and covered just over 90 miles of the county's roads.

You can see pictures of all cleanups on the Augusta County Litter Control facebook page.

The litter control program continues to take a multi-pronged approach to the problem of litter in Augusta County.  These include:

• the creation of anti-littering education and community events

• the coordination of anti-littering enforcement

• placing anti-littering signs throughout the county.