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Littering of rubber gloves becoming a problem amid pandemic

Posted at 3:15 PM, Apr 06, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-06 16:43:29-04

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (LEX 18) — Stop littering. That's the message from Nicholasville Police after officers are seeing lots of rubber gloves thrown in store parking lots.

"It's just ridiculous is what it is," said Sergeant Kevin Grimes.

Grimes posted a picture on Facebook of pairs of gloves littered in a shopping center. He hopes people pay attention and do the right thing.

"I had a friend send me that picture, then within about two hours I went to Walmart and saw the same things in the parking lot. Rubber gloves laying in every aisle in shopping carts," said Grimes.

He reminds people littering is illegal.

"That's a criminal offense," Grimes said of littering. "It's a $500 fine you can be issued a citation for that. The problem is, people don't want to pick up that stuff."

It's a problem in many places. It didn't take us long to find gloves scattered on store parking lots in Georgetown. Many of them thrown just feet away from a trash can.

Retail managers say their employees are constantly picking up gloves.

Grimes says there is no excuse for it.

"Just keep a plastic baggie in your car," Grimes said. "I mean it's pretty simple. Those Walmart bags are everywhere, and Kroger bags. If you're worried about discarding them, put them in that and tie it up and immediately hand sanitize after that."