Protecting the environment and cleaning up the community were the focus last week of the state and Logan County Solid Waste Program.

Logan County was highlighted by the Division of Waste Management during "Commonwealth Cleanup Week." Officials from the Bowling Green regional office assisted in the cleanup efforts along with Logan County Solid Waste Coordinator Denny Harris.

The purpose of "Commonwealth Cleanup Week" is to help beautify Kentucky while promoting responsible solid waste practices. Last week five illegal dump sites were selected for cleanup in Logan County. They were located on Mortimer, River, Ferguson, Omma Butts, and Buena Vista Roads.

"We pick a county each year in which to target illegal dumping," said Robbie McGuffey, environmental control supervisor out of the Bowling Green office. "This effort is to bring awareness to the community that we are out here and that open dumping is illegal and a violation of state and county laws."

The EPPC estimates that approximately 7,000 illegal dumps currently litter the Commonwealth of Kentucky

"The problem of backwoods dumping has been going on for a very long time," said Logan County's Harris. "People have been dumping their trash in sinkholes for years and don't realize the dangers involved in their actions. Not only does it affect the cosmetics of the property but environmentally undergrown springs and drain-off can result in polluted water sources as well."

Harris said 90 tons of trash was recovered from the illegal dump site on Mortimer Road near Adairville. The state and county group, with help from several Logan County inmates, spent two full days out there. Large equipment was used to dig out the dump located at the bottom of a cliff and just a few feet away from the Red River. "People have been coming here for years," said Harris, who added he and his department will aggressively monitor the site for future dumping. There are stiff fines for violators, he said.

Along with McGuffey, state workers who volunteered their time to aid in the cleanup were Tina Harris, Richard Denton, Mike Sapp, Todd Johnston and Steve Kellerman.

n Last year, in the state, more than 23,000 people joined forces during "Commonwealth Cleanup Week" to collect approximately 59,000 bags of trash, 85,000 waste tires, 6,000 appliances, and 700 tons of scrap metal. This combination of volunteers and state and local government workers removed an estimated 6,600 tons of trash from Kentucky's roadways and hillsides. More than 400 organizations took part in the event.