Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich, Biloxi City Council, and Biloxi Police are asking residents and visitors to keep Biloxi beautiful with litter prevention.
Litter along the roadways and throughout the city impacts the environment and the well-being of our community. It is also against the law.
According to the City of Biloxi Code of Ordinance, it is “unlawful for any person to throw, discard, place, or deposit any garbage or litter in any manner or amount on any public or private property within the corporate limits of the city, except in containers or areas lawfully provided.”
Working together to stop littering, pick up litter, and report it allows the community to continue to keep Biloxi a clean, safe city.
“Litter prevention is a community-wide responsibility,” said Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich. “It takes all of us working together to stop littering.”
Last year, Biloxi Public Works conducted more than 2,000 pick-ups, collecting 1,795 tons of waste with 340 trips to the landfill. Crews also collected more than 1,000 bags of litter.
Thousands more bags of litter were collected through community-wide cleanups such as the Biloxi Main Street Earth Day Clean-up, the Mississippi State Star-Spangled Cleanup, Clean Up at the Point, and Resilient East Biloxi Community Cleanup Day.
“By working together to prevent littering, we not only preserve our beautiful city but also create a safer, more welcoming environment for everyone,” said Kenny Glavan, Biloxi City Council President. “When we unite in this effort, Biloxi shines brighter, and residents and visitors alike can enjoy our city with pride and confidence.”
Every little bit hurts the community, and as a tourist destination with nearly 50,000 residents and thousands of visitors annually, litter can negatively impact the aesthetic appeal and economic health of the city. It can also decrease visitor numbers and the length of time tourists stay. These are even more reasons to keep Biloxi, a destination city, clean and free from cluttered garbage and waste.
“It is very important to prevent litter throughout our city,” said Biloxi Police Chief John Miller. “No one likes to see that, and it gives people a perception that is not accurate of how we take care of our city.”
Besides participating in community cleanups, residents can help with litter prevention by doing things such as picking up litter along the streets, in parks, and on their property; ensuring personal trash and yard trimmings are properly disposed of; and reporting any violations. If you see litter, report it.
Call the Biloxi Police Department at 228-392-0641 to report a litter violation in action. If tires are dumped along the roadway, call Biloxi Public Works at 228-435-6271 or email cross@biloxi.ms.us, and if you see trash collecting on private property, call Biloxi Code Enforcement at 228-435-0841, or email codeenforcement@biloxi.ms.us.
It is a community effort to prevent littering, and ultimately, it takes everyone to stop it!
