BATON ROUGE – On Friday, March 18, 2016, more than 760 top leaders from every corner of the state, including Governor John Bel Edwards, First Lady Donna Edwards and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser participated in the third annual Leaders Against Litter (LAL) event.
Leaders throughout the state started the morning by picking up more than 8,820 lbs. or 441 bags of trash and 5,358 cigarette butts. They concluded by pledged to preserve and protect Louisiana by agreeing to “Stand Up, Speak Up and Pick Up” for a litter-free Louisiana.
After the cleanup, Nungesser held a press conference inside the State Capitol in Baton Rouge to announce the results and to call all citizens to do their part to protect and preserve our beautiful state. In addition to Nungesser, speakers included Executive Director of Volunteer Louisiana Judd Jeansonne, Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality Dr. Chuck Brown, Secretary of Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Dr. Shawn Wilson, Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain, Louisiana State Police Capt. Doug Cain and KLB board and advisory board members Andy Johnson, Susan Strain, Jean Kelly, Venise Ortego and Phyllis Darensbourg.
“This event was a huge success, and we are grateful for the exceptional support displayed by our state’s top leadership and our state agency partners,” KLB Executive Director Susan Russell said. “We are especially thankful to the Governor, Mrs. Edwards and the Lt. Governor for their participation. Keep Louisiana Beautiful effectively raised awareness about Louisiana’s litter problem while also taking strides to improve it.”
Twenty Keep Louisiana Beautiful affiliates participated, including Abbeville, Assumption, Baton Rouge, Covington, East Feliciana, Eunice, Hammond, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Mandeville, Natchitoches, New Orleans, Slidell, St. James, St. John, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne and West Baton Rouge. Affiliates will be conducting community-wide cleanups through May.
Keep Louisiana Beautiful, Inc. is the state’s anti-litter and community improvement organization focused on education, enforcement, awareness and cleanups. Affiliated with Keep America Beautiful, Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s mission is to promote personal, corporate and community responsibility for a clean and beautiful Louisiana.
Governor John Bel Edwards and First Lady Donna Edwards pledging their support for a litter free Louisiana. Also pictured: First Lady Donna Edwards and Keep Louisiana Beautiful Executive Director Susan Russell
The Baton Rouge cleanup crew with their trash bags.
The Leaders Against Litter press conference at the State Capitol
Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser pledging his support for a litter free Louisiana
