Trash collection sites around the county produced good resultsduring the recent Great American Cleanup, officials said, but alitter pick up incentive program has been extended to encouragemore participation.

Jane Kees, project coordinator for Keep Lincoln CountyBeautiful, said the Gold in the Litter program will go through theend of this week. In the program, gold-colored eggs with couponsfor prizes have been hidden in roadside litter for people to findwhen they pick it up.

“The eggs are still out and they can still be picked up,” Keessaid Friday.

Coupons for the prizes, including a $100 savings bond from alocal bank, as well as food prizes from area restaurants and giftsfrom other local businesses, can be redeemed at the Lincoln CountyChancery Clerk’s Office. Kees said she checked shortly after theoriginal April 30 redemption deadline and only one prize had beenclaimed.

“Probably some more have been claimed by now,” she said.

Kees said prizes not claimed by the end of the week will bereturned to the donating businesses and merchants. She encouragedchurch groups, civic clubs and other organizations to participatein the litter pick up campaign.

“We thank people for what they have done,” Kees said.

In other activity during the April cleanup campaign, LincolnCounty Solid Waste Coordinator Ronnie Durr said 206 total tons oftrash and debris were collected on weekends at five sites aroundthe county. In 2004, he said, 167 total tons were picked up.

“There was quite a bit of difference there,” Durr said.

Durr cited several factors in the increase. One was moreadvertising through the newspaper and radio and distribution offlyers in the respective communities.

“We reached more people this year,” Durr said. “That, in myopinion, contributed to the amount.”

Durr said the most trash and debris, 55 tons, was collectedduring the weekend the dumpster was in the Bogue Chitto area. Itwas also the leader last year.

While all five supervisor districts were included, Durr said theincrease in collection may be due to different locations this yearover last. He said it is a “balancing act” as to where to put thedumpster in each district.

Also in the collection activity, Durr said the number of whitegood left at the dumpster was down and approximately 3,000 tireswere taken off to be recycled. He estimated some tires were morethan 30 years old.

Durr said the collection site effort was an overall success,suggesting that people are getting rid of old items around theirhomes. The overall goal, however, is to reduce the amount of trashand other items that have to be disposed of through the cleanupcampaign.

“Overall, we want to see these figures decrease,” Durr said.

Durr thanked the property owners who allowed their land to beused as collection sites for the dumpster.

“They were very instrumental to us,” he said. “I reallyappreciate that.”

Homer Richardson said KLCB officials will be meeting soon toprepare information for their semi-annual report to the nationalorganization. With the success of the collection site effort, hewas looking for a positive report.

“I think it will be,” Richardson said.

The report will also include a comparison of results from KLCB’sannual litter survey. In the survey, litter accumulations at 90areas around the county and city are compared from year toyear.

Richardson said litter results were up slightly this year overlast. However, he expected better numbers when KLCB conducts itsnext survey later this year.

“I get the general impression that things are getting cleaner,”Richardson said. “But we won’t know until November when we do thesurvey.”