Littering can be costly in the form of fines and cost associated with cleaning up the mess.

“For a long time (the fine) was $750 and I don’t know if they raised it to $1,000 or not, bottom line is that’s just a range,” said David Chambers, the deputy chief of police.

Chambers said city ordinances are deterrents and are not set up to cripple people financially. The fines are intended to enforce the law.

He also said there are state penalties in place, but they are more severe and unnecessary for minor offenses. Volunteer work is one way in which littering is handled.

City Manager Steve Pamperin said the city works in conjunction with Eastern, through the Good Neighbors program and with Coles County through various volunteer programs and civic groups.

On average 20 bags, or the equivalent of a pickup truck full of garbage are collected every other week on Saturdays by volunteers.

Sara Duncan, a sophomore family and consumer science major, volunteered on Saturdays Make a Difference Day and said littering is a problem in many areas.

“It’s better here than it is in a large city, but it’s still generally a big problem,” she said. “We have cigarette butts all over the place, we have garbage from fast food places all over the place, not everyone takes care of the community.”

Duncan said if one yard looks bad it makes the rest of the yards around it look bad. She also said littering amounts to people being lazy and not taking pride in what the community looks like.

Along with being an eye sore, litter also has a negative impact on the environment.

Karen Gaines, the biology department chairwoman, said that garbage such as cigarette butts, Styrofoam cups and aluminum cans will not biodegrade in our lifetime. She also said the major problem with waste is run off into the water supply.

Stephen Mullin, a professor within the biological sciences department, said his main concern with litter is its effect on non-target organisms.

“People twist off the tabs of aluminum cans and snakes venture into these cans and become trapped,” he said.

However, Chambers said the efforts between the town and the university are a reflection of the community.

“I think we have a good town, I think we have good students,” Chambers said. “Thanks to the cooperation with us and Eastern working together I think we’re consistent, so that students aren’t getting mixed messages.”

Marcus Smith can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected]