The annual Trash Bash encourages people to clean up litter across Missouri from roadsides, parks, neighborhoods, rivers, streams, trails and other places. Trash Bash activities also include educational efforts in schools, community events and Earth Day celebrations.

Each year, MoDOT spends about $6.75 million to remove litter from more than 385,000 acres of roadsides along 34,000 state highway miles. Annual volunteer efforts to pick up litter along Missouri highways are valued at more than $1 million.

Littering also hurts wildlife and Missouri outdoors.

"Many animals mistake litter for food and become sick and die when they try to ingest it," said Joe Jerek, the Missouri Department of Conservation's No MOre Trash! coordinator. "Birds, fish, turtles and other animals get tangled in litter, such as plastic six-pack holders and fishing line, and it can kill them."

In 2017, 65 percent of vehicle occupant fatalities were not wearing one.

To help make your travel safer, visit MoDOT's Traveler Information Map for work zones. Motorists can comment on the quality of MoDOT's work zones with an online customer survey.

SCAM ALERT!!!! Individuals are receiving calls stating they are from the IRS and telling them they have a warrant for their arrest and law enforcement will pick them up unless they send them money. The amounts they request to keep from being arrested varies. The caller has valid information about the individual they are calling. They will ask them to go to a store that has gift cards and purchase cards and send to a specific address. Those who are receiving these calls should not send any money because of a phone call.

THE IRS DOES NOT MAKE PHONE CALLS OR MAKE THREATS REGARDING WARRANTS. INDIVIDUALS SHOULD USE COMMON SENSE AND NOT SEND MONEY TO ANYONE WHO IS DEMANDING IT OVER THE TELEPHONE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY SAY.

Jefferson City, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) encourage people throughout Missouri to help “bash trash” during their 16th annual No MOre Trash! Bash April 15 through May 15.

The event focuses on “spring cleaning” the outdoors by asking people to pick up litter across Missouri from roadsides, parks, neighborhoods, rivers, streams, trails, and other places. Trash Bash activities also include various educational efforts in schools, community events, and Earth Day celebrations around the state.

"Littering harms the environment and pollutes our waterways," said MoDOT No MOre Trash! Coordinator Stacy Armstrong. "Please consider the impact you can make on the environment by recycling, reusing, and disposing of waste properly."

Each year, MoDOT spends about $6.75 million to remove litter from more than 385,000 acres of roadsides along 34,000 state highway miles. Annual volunteer efforts to pick up litter along Missouri highways are valued at more than $1 million.

Littering also hurts wildlife and Missouri outdoors.

"Many animals mistake litter for food and become sick and die when they try to ingest it,” said MDC No MOre Trash! Coordinator Joe Jerek. "Birds, fish, turtles, and other animals also get tangled in litter, such as plastic six-pack holders and fishing line, and it can kill them."

Last year, volunteers collected more than 43,000 bags of litter and several truckloads of debris during the spring No More Trash! Bash. People also attended numerous educational events that stressed the importance of not littering.

Volunteers also participated through Adopt-A-Highway and Stream Team litter cleanup events. Missouri Stream Team Program volunteers removed 547 tons of litter from waterways and dedicated more than $2.3 million worth of volunteer time to litter removal statewide annually.

MoDOT and the Department of Health and Senior Services know that car crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1-13 in the United States. Safety professionals continue to stress the importance of buckling children in an age-appropriate safety seat. It's their best defense in a traffic crash. MoDHSS Director Dr. Randall Williams reminds, "Everyone, including pregnant women and children, should use seat belts or car seats every time they ride in a motor vehicle."