Litter has become a problem that the Pearl River County Board of Supervisors would like to resolve. 

Last spring, the Board discussed giving first and second grade students across the county anti-littering coloring books that could educate them about the issue.

A year later the book is ready, and the Board plans to approach schools and find additional sponsors to help fund the initiative, District I Supervisor Donald Hart said.

The book is entitled “Keep Pearl River County Clean and Green.” It includes illustrations and information complied by Picayune resident Abigail Chatelain to help educate children about the negative aspects of littering.

Chatelain said she makes a conscious effort to keep her community clean.

“I really like seeing clean streets and yards and I guess this is one part of trying to get the word out,” she said.

Hart approached Chatelain after witnessing her pick up trash around her neighborhood on several occasions.

He would later learn that Chatelain is also an artist who’s illustrated books for the county in the past, prompting Hart to ask her to create the anti-litter coloring book.

“We asked her if she could come up with something short and to the point… and left the whole concept to her,” Hart said.

The book uses an interactive approach to help young people understand the importance of maintaining a clean environment and how litter damages the planet, Hart said.

Annually, about $250,000 is spent on litter crews in this county, he said.

Hart plans to get the books into local schools by the beginning of next year. The Board is looking at printing about 2,500 copies, which will cost the county about 30 cents per copy, he said.