Talkin’ Trash

Talkin’ Trash

By William H. McCormick

For the 23rd straight year, volunteer action continued in 2024 to control trash on the Foxcroft Road.

I conduct this annual survey as a single observer. The numbers in the charts are somewhat understated because other individuals also pick up trash on these roads.

The total trash items I retrieved in 2024 was 1,164. The average for the preceding 20 years was 1,063. Therefore, last year, total trash items were a bit more than average. In contrast, in 2020 the total of 847 items was below average. Our biggest recent year was 2018 with 1,377 pieces. The 23-year total is 24,490 pieces.

The course of trash collection is a 4.6 mile route of dirt and hard road that includes portions of the Polecat Hill Road (Rt. 696), the Foxcroft Road (Rt. 626), the Goodstone Road (Rt. 744), and the Millville Road. (Rt. 743).

Looking to 2025, is it possible to identify road trash trends?

Unlabeled miscellaneous trash at 390 pieces (33.5% of total trash) provides a context and perspective for other labeled road side liter. Trash labels do have a purpose in that they call attention to the origin of the trash, and given 22 years of previous data accumulation, trends also can be seen.

It’s obvious that tobacco products are on the decline. They compose 1% of overall trash; as recently as 2015, it was 5%. Could the decline be attributed to definitive medical evidence compiled over the last 50 years that smoking is hazardous to your health.

In the Fast Food group (15% overall), McDonald’ s was tied by a surging Burger King at 4%. Both products had 48 pieces. In the Soft Drink category (8.7% overall), Coca Cola ( 2.7%) easily bested Pepsico (1.2%). Water bottles (7% overall) favored Deer Park (1.2%) vs. Kirkland, slightly less than 1%.

In the Beer/Wine/Liquor category (25% overall) a new rivalry has emerged. Modelo (8% overall) easily outperformed the perennial leader, AB In Bev (6.6% overall), Modelo has tripled its output in the last three years to beat out the 24 or more brands listed underAB In Bev production. Hence Modelo is the recipient of this year’s Foxcroft Road Slovenly Award.

In conclusion, the top contributors to the 2024 road trash study ranked by single categories were: Miscellaneous (excluding generic cups/bottles, paper towels/napkins, bags, and car parts): 145 (12.4%); 2. Paper Towels and Napkins: 101 (8.5%); 3. Modelo: 99 (8%); 4. AB InBev: 79 (7%); 5. Bags, Plastic and Paper: 77 (6.5%); 6. Generic Cups and Bottles: 67 (6%); 7. McDonald’s: 48 (4.0%); 8. Corona: 34 (2.9%); 9. Miller/Coor’s 33 (2.8%); 10. Coca-Cola: 32 (2.7%); 11. Car Parts: 23 (1.9%); 12. Pepsico: 17 ( 1.4%);13. Seven-Eleven: 13 (1.1%).

Dr. Willie McCormick is a long-time Middleburg equine veterinarian and a dedicated trash collector.