Parish litter manager says job is opportunity to make a difference

Published 7:47 am Friday, October 7, 2022

Wyvette Pryor-Cousin describes herself as someone who has always been “organized  and likes things just so.” She’s also one who believes a person never gets a second chance to make a good first impression – and neither does a community.

In her role as Calcasieu Parish Litter Manager, she epitomizes the quote attributed to Mark Twain. “Find a job you enjoy doing and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

“For me, it’s not work,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to make a difference. I can’t believe I get to do this everyday.”

“This” is creating enthusiasm about  and participating in parish beautification by promoting Pick It Up Calcasieu and putting policies in place that crack down on dumpers.

‘It’s about action, not just words,” she said.

According to Prior-Cousin, The Pick It Up Calcasieu Spring Clean-Up Event was held on April 1-23. This combined effort between the CPPJ, City of Lake Charles, City of Sulphur, City of Westlake and City of Vinton resulted in 66 locations cleaned by over 980 volunteers, just an example of the impact created when communities work together with one end in mind.

When the CPPJ conducted its 2018 survey, results indicated that the second most important concern to residents, behind drainage, was litter. September 2019, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury announced the details of the new parishwide litter initiative, Pick It Up Calcasieu.

It is a multi-faceted, comprehensive approach that has opened the door for more individuals, businesses and schools to be involved. Areas won’t just look better with the trash picked up. Trash can clog drainage arteries and turn off new businesses and residents looking for their next address here.

“Groups can adopt-a-spot by assembling a team, neighbors, club members, family, friends…. Anyone can do this,” Pryor-Cousin said. “We supply the team with free bags, gloves, pickers and vests, and we encourage groups to post  before and after photos on social media.”

Pryor-Cousin and staff visit schools to raise public awareness and share information.

“We know that one of the most important aspects of litter prevention is educating area youth on the negative consequences of throwing trash where it doesn’t belong,” she said. “Research shows that most children have learned their basic habits and practices by the end of their 4th grade year.”

She has learned a thing or two about litter and the environment in the process. For example, cigarettes make up more than one-third, nearly 38 percent – of all collected litter.

“Seventy-five percent of smokers don’t even think about disposing cigarettes on the ground or out of a car,” she said.

Cigarette filters are made of non-biodegradable plastic fibers. They do break down, depending on environmental conditions like the rain and sun and a recent study found that a cigarette butt was only about 38 percent decomposed after two years.

In addition to growing up in an environment where littering is accepted, she described others who litter as individuals who think “somebody else will handle this.”

“They don’t see litter as an issue,” she said.

Pick It Up Calcasieu makes it easy for businesses to participate by providing them with talking points, data, ready-to-use copy for newsletter and email outreach, and ways to incorporate Pick It Up into safety training. The litter management team visits business sites to give presentations about making more sustainable choices as a company and as individuals.

In addition to making it easy to get involved, Pick It Up Calcasieu makes it easy to report any form of litter, including reporting a business and reporting illegal dumping. Call 337-493-5487.

To find out more about Pick It Up Calcasieu, go to www.pickitupcalcasieu.com