Anti-litter displays going up on Arkansas highways

From the Arkansas Department of Transportation

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is installing new anti-litter displays in two locations along Arkansas highways beginning the week of Dec. 8, 2025. The displays will be in place for approximately one month, then rotate to new locations around the state.

Travelers along Arkansas highways will see a series of blue highway signs with anti-litter messaging. The first sign will read, “ARDOT spends over $8 million per year combatting litter.” A second one will say, “Are you part of the problem or the solution?” The third sign will read, “Please help us keep Arkansas natural.” At the end of the three signs, the public will see five-foot-tall wire mesh letters spelling out “NATURAL?” The wire letters are hollow and will be filled with litter that has been picked up by crews in the area.

“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.

“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,” said ARDOT Director Jared Wiley. “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.”

The signage and litter letters were made in-house by ARDOT employees.

They will first be installed along Interstate 555 (Exit 42) in Jonesboro and Interstate 49 (Exit 91) in Bentonville.