Keeping Mableton Clean: Where People Litter and How We Can Help

Back in January, I covered a neighborhood cleanup at the corner of Factory Shoals Road and Riverside Parkway. After talking to a Keep Cobb Beautiful Board member, she told me that this section has the worst littering in Cobb County.

That made me wonder about how littering shows up in our town, why it happens, and what we can do to curb it.

So I set out to talk to some of our local leaders who are on the ground dealing with littering.

Here is what they had to say.

Insights from the City of Mableton

Emily Ryan, Director of Mableton’s Sustainability, Greenspace & Beautification Department, offered perspective on where litter accumulates and why people might drop trash in public spaces:

"Litter that accumulates along roadsides is the most common. This typically stems from two situations: pedestrians who have trash but nowhere to easily throw it away, or drivers waiting at intersections or traveling along smaller, often unlit roads."

Ryan also pointed out that roadside trash usually consists of single-use drink containers, food wrappers, and cigarette butts. Because these individual items seem small, people sometimes assume dropping one won't do much harm, but those small items quickly add up.

Where the Problem Hits Hardest

While the city handles reports and enforcement, the reality on the ground is that some areas require constant attention. Barry Krebs, a commissioner for the newly-established Keep Mableton Beautiful, and a longtime cleanup volunteer, pointed to specific hotspots: "Around the Six Flags area including Lee Industrial Blvd, Riverside Pkwy, Factory Shoals Road [and] City View Drive is a constant struggle to keep clean."

Krebs also noted that areas bordering Lithia Springs, such as Cardell Road and the western section of Old Alabama Road, are difficult to maintain. Additionally, higher levels of litter are frequently found outside apartment complexes and around convenience and dollar stores.  

The impact of this trash goes beyond just aesthetics; it is a major issue that affects how the area is perceived. Krebs emphasized that persistent litter signals a lack of common courtesy and community care, asking, "Who wants to invest in a home or establish a business if your neighbors or clients do not care about their community?"  

Good News: Litter Levels Are Decreasing

Despite these challenging areas, local volunteers are making a measurable difference. Krebs shared encouraging news regarding community-wide numbers:

"Overall measurements show that Mableton’s litter levels have been decreasing slightly over the years. We are not sure if it is because our population is becoming more socially aware or because our volunteer organizations are becoming more involved in litter cleanups."

Krebs added that human psychology plays an important role: studies show people are much less likely to litter in a clean environment, as it triggers guilt to be the first to drop trash.  

Simple Ways You Can Get Involved

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Keeping Mableton clean takes a community-wide effort. When asked what we can do as a community to minimize roadside trash, Krebs emphasized the power of group involvement:  

"More Adopt-A-Mile groups such as churches, HOA’s, civic organizations are always helpful. People are less likely to litter clean areas."

Join Keep Mableton Beautiful: Participate in community cleanup days, tree plantings, and educational events. Signup by emailing here.

Adopt a Road: Local churches, HOAs, and civic clubs can adopt a stretch of road through the Adopt-A-Mile program. There are plenty of roads open for adoption around Mableton. Signup by emailing here. 

Report Litter: Littering on public streets and vacant lots is illegal in Mableton and can result in fines. If you spot problem areas, you can report them directly to Code Enforcement using the City's online portal here.

Keep Trash Bags in Your Car: A simple habit that keeps roadside litter from starting in the first place.

By working together and taking simple steps every day, we can all play a part in keeping Mableton beautiful and building a community we are proud to call home.