Chris Lawless, a candidate for the Collinsville District seat on the Henry County Board of Supervisors, is helping lead a fast-growing cleanup initiative known as Trash Pandas.
Lawless is running against incumbent Joe Bryant, who also serves as vice-chairman of the board.
(Photo courtesy of Skill Wave Media)
The grassroots group organizes regular trash pickups across Henry County and Martinsville, including in areas as far-reaching as Spencer. What started as a small idea has grown into a movement, driven by community volunteers and the growing frustration over roadside litter.
Lawless said the idea took off after he joined forces with Ariel Johnson, director of the MHC Warming Center.
“She had started the group, but it just wasn’t getting the traction,” he said. “I reached out and said, ‘Can I help?’ and that’s when it really started to take off.”
Trash quickly proved to be a top concern among residents. The group now organizes cleanups every other Saturday.
“We started with Koehler Road by Sportlanes. There were maybe four of us at first, but it’s grown. Now we usually have eight to ten regulars,” Lawless said.
The group rotates cleanup locations every two weeks, based on previous sites that need maintenance or roads flagged by residents.
“People text or call and say, ‘Hey, this road’s bad,’ and we’ll head that way next,” he said.
Trash Pandas has evolved through trial and error. Early cleanups took place around noon, but summer heat forced a change to 8 a.m.
“You couldn’t get people to come out in the heat,” Lawless said. “We adjusted.”
The group is also working to involve young people, with ideas like educational materials, litter awareness signs, and cartoon mascots such as “Lilly the Litterbug.”
Lawless said the worst areas they’ve cleaned tend to be remote places where people feel they’re not being watched.
“People dump in curves or from the back of trucks,” he said.
Lawless has been researching enforcement policy and wants to see stronger accountability.
Sheriff “Wayne Davis told me you have to catch them in the act to fine them, but I don’t agree with that,” Lawless said. “With speeding tickets, the owner of the car is responsible. Why can’t it be the same for litter?”
He believes community service could be more effective than fines.
“You don’t always have to fine people who don’t have the money. Make them pick it up. Let the judge send them to us for an hour or two,” he said.
Trash Pandas is now part of Engage, a broader volunteer organization led by Lawless’ wife, Brandie. By combining efforts, they hope to streamline volunteer sign-ups and expand outreach.
“A lot of people want to help but don’t know how,” Lawless said.
To keep momentum going, he’s proposed creative incentives like “Trash Cash”—a scavenger-style game where a hidden object at cleanup sites could win a participant a cash prize.
He hopes to fund the incentives through community fundraisers, which could also help elderly residents with yard care.
“People used to volunteer just to help,” he said. “Now they’re burnt out or can’t afford to give up their time. So you have to incentivize — not always with money, but with recognition, appreciation, something.”
Lawless said culture and consistency are key.
“You need to build a team feeling. Take them out to Carowinds, give them pizza, tell them ‘thank you.’ You’ve got to create that family feel or they’ll stop showing up.”
The effort has already reached areas like Ridgeway, Spencer, Martinsville, and Collinsville—but Lawless said there’s more to be done.
“We don’t have anyone for Axton or Irisburg yet,” he said. “But we’ll get there.”
Ultimately, Lawless said Trash Pandas is about more than just litter.
“It’s not just about picking up trash,” he said. “It’s about showing people they can be part of something that makes a difference.”
