Sept. 12. ​The N.C. Department of Transportation’s 2025 Fall Litter Sweep is taking place Sept. 13-27​.​ Twice a year, the department calls upon volunteers throughout the state to participate in local efforts to help clean up North Carolina’s roadways.

“Volunteering during the Fall Litter Sweep is a simple way anyone can make a visible difference,” said Jeremy Goodwin, NCDOT’s roadside environmental engineer. “Whether it is a quick walk or a full day of cleanup, your efforts help keep North Carolina cleaner, greener and more welcoming for everyone.”

Volunteers are provided cleanup supplies, such as reversible orange/blue trash bags, gloves and orange safety vests,​ from their local NCDOT County Maintenance Yard office​. NCDOT maintenance crews then collect the trash bags placed on the roadsides by volunteer pickups.

Coordinators work with individual volunteers and groups to assign an available stretch of state-maintained roads and answer questions about the program. Mecklenburg County coordinator Emily McMillion can be reached at 980-523-0000.

This year’s Fall Litter Sweep also serves as a lead-up to the Great American Cleanup, the nation’s largest-ever community improvement initiative.