Arkansas – The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is preparing to launch a new public awareness effort aimed at fighting roadside litter, and drivers across the state will soon notice something very different along the highways. Beginning the week of December 8, ARDOT will install a set of large, attention-grabbing anti-litter displays in two key locations, marking the start of a campaign designed to get travelers thinking about the cost and impact of littering. The displays will remain in each spot for about a month before rotating to other regions, allowing the message to reach a wide audience across Arkansas.
The new highway displays use a combination of large blue signs and bold visual elements to make their point. Motorists traveling past the installations will see three sequential signs, each delivering a clear message. The first one reads, “ARDOT spends over $8 million per year combatting litter.” A second sign follows with a question intended to prompt reflection: “Are you part of the problem or the solution?” The final blue sign closes the series with a direct appeal to shared responsibility: “Please help us keep Arkansas natural.” All three statements lead up to the most dramatic part of the display—five-foot-tall wire mesh letters arranged to spell out “NATURAL?” The letters, which are hollow, will slowly fill with litter collected by ARDOT crews working in the area.
According to ARDOT officials, the idea behind the display is simple but powerful. By showing the actual trash picked up along Arkansas highways, the agency hopes to make the issue more visible to people who might not realize how much time, effort, and public money go into cleaning roadside debris. “The average taxpayer may not know how much ARDOT spends each year picking up litter from our highways. Our goal is to raise awareness for all Arkansans and travelers in our state,” said Steve Frisbee, ARDOT Assistant Chief Engineer for Maintenance. His message underscores the core challenge facing the agency: most residents understand that littering is harmful, but few see the full scale of its financial and environmental burden.
ARDOT leaders say the project also ties back to the state’s identity. The phrase “The Natural State,” long used to promote Arkansas’ scenic landscapes, is a point of pride for residents and a reminder of what the agency works to protect. ARDOT Director Jared Wiley emphasized that connection, saying, “Arkansas is ‘The Natural State,’ and we, as the Arkansas Department of Transportation, have a unique responsibility to help preserve the beauty that surrounds our infrastructure. In addition to the money we spend on litter pickup each year, we are always exploring new ways to combat the litter problem. We hope these litter letters resonate with the traveling public and spur positive change.” His remarks reflect ARDOT’s view that improving highway cleanliness is not just about maintenance; it is about stewardship.
The new displays also highlight the hands-on work done by ARDOT’s own staff. Both the signage and the large wire letters were created in-house by agency employees, illustrating how the department continues to develop cost-effective tools and strategies while raising public awareness. By crafting the displays themselves, crews were able to design pieces sturdy enough to withstand outdoor conditions and visible enough to draw attention from passing traffic.
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The first installations will appear at two high-traffic exits: Interstate 555 at Exit 42 in Jonesboro and Interstate 49 at Exit 91 in Bentonville. These locations were selected in part because of their heavy daily traffic, ensuring thousands of drivers will encounter the displays during their initial deployment. After about a month, ARDOT plans to move the displays to new areas, eventually covering different regions of the state.
As ARDOT prepares for the rollout, the agency hopes the combination of vivid signage, real collected litter, and a pointed question—“Are you part of the problem or the solution?”—will leave a lasting impression on travelers. By sparking conversations and encouraging better habits, the department aims to reduce cleanup costs, protect the state’s natural beauty, and remind the public that the responsibility for cleaner highways begins with every driver who chooses where to place their trash.
