2010 was the ninth consecutive year of a volunteer action to control trash on the Foxcroft Road. The author conducts this survey as a single observer. However, there are others who also pick up trash on the Foxcroft Road, such as the Middleburg Hunt and the Foxcroft students themselves. Therefore, if anything, the numbers here noted are understated. The year 2010 ranks as the most productive for the whole survey (2002: 713, 2003: 950, 2004: 1033, 2005: 1099, 2006: 1216, 2007: 1143, 2008: 899 2009:1105, 2010: 1276). To find second place we must return to the late Bush '43 Administration.

To aid those first time readers and as a reminder to past readers of this column, the course of trash collection is a 4.6 mile route of dirt and hard road that includes portions of the Polecat Hill Rd. (Rt. 696), the Foxcroft Rd. (Rt. 626), the Snake Hill Rd. (Rt. 744), and the Millville Rd. (Rt. 743).

This past year, 1276 individual pieces trash were retrieved from the Foxcroft Road, and most of the trash was recycled. The perennial nicotine champion, Marlboro, accounted for 47% of the tobacco total with Newport second at 16%. The relative numbers of tobacco products slipped to its lowest percentage (5%) of total trash in the last nine years, yet absolute numbers were about average. According to The New England Journal of Medicine "more than 8 million people are sick or disabled as a result of tobacco use, and smoking kills 450,000 Americans annually."

The putative relationship of tobacco and health has been scientifically established since the early 1950's. This summer New York Times editor, Richard Cohen, suggested that instead of putting the image of diseased inner organs on the cover of cigarette packages, they should put the pictures of the CEO's who so cleverly delayed meaningful tobacco regulation for decades. Their actions are a guiding principle for every other polluter. If the tobacco CEO's can lie with impunity in open Congressional hearings, why cannot every other polluter?

In the New Age- Soft Drink category, the competition was between Pepsico and Coca Cola (123 vs. 73 in absolute numbers or 39% vs. 23% of the soft drink group). This year Pepsico was able to establish a clear separation from its oldest and nearest rival. For a long time Coca Cola has been able to depend on its sugary product and business acumen. However, tastes change, and the consuming public longs for caffeine jolts or electrolytes such as are provided by Mountain Dew and Gatorade. By the way, when victorious football coaches are doused with the contents of huge Gatorade barrels, the actual liquid is ice water. No actual Gatorade is wasted in the ritual, and Pepsico pays for the privilege of providing the appropriately labeled barrel. Any publicity is good publicity.

The Fast Food group scored a remarkable increase from 15% of total trash in 2009 to 21% in 2010. The closest McDonald's to Middleburg is a 20 to 25 minute drive away, yet McDonald's was able to distribute 128 pieces of trash or 47% of the fast food total. Wendy's dropped to fourth place with 10% (27) of the fast food on the Foxcroft Road. The runner up was 7-Eleven at 13% (36). A new comer, Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen totaled 11% (30). According to the Washington Post, McDonald's is the single largest nongovernmental employer in the Washington area, boasting 13,684 employees.

McDonald's, Popeye's, Wendy's and Burger King dispense fast food in bags with a brand name emblazoned thereupon. If one is interested in the origins of these bags, one need only look for the printed receipt within. One of the selling points of a fast food franchise is the business-like approach to the enterprise. Consequently, an itemized receipt is issued with each purchase. Therefore, on the receipt one will find the date, time, and site of the purchase as well as a cash or credit notation, even the last four digits of the credit card, if used in the transaction. The physical site and number of the store is listed as well as a telephone number. With that information we note that the person(s) dumping McDonald's bags on the Foxcroft Road purchases lunch in Leesburg or Fairfax on a weekday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, then drives west on Rt. 50 and dumps the bag between Middleburg and Foxcroft from 1:00 -3:00 PM. One wonders just who fits this profile?

We all know that it is a crime to litter in the State of Virginia. We would like to express our gratitude to McDonald's and other fast food purveyors for providing a convenient phone number with which to register complaints.

In the Beer, Wine, and Booze category Coor's, last year's surprise winner, once again must take second place to In Bev, the parent company of Anheuser-Busch. Budweiser accounted for a full 10% of all road trash. Miller / Coor's only accounted for 8% of total road trash. Budweiser with 130 pieces of individual trash barely exceeded McDonald's absolute total of 128.

This year the "Slovenly Seven" accounted for 50% of all road trash. They are ranked in order of gross trash production:
1. Anheuser-Busch
2. McDonald's
3. Pepsico
4. Miller / Coor's
5. Coca Cola
6. 7-Eleven
7. Marlboro

This year 7-Eleven replaced Wendy's. Look for these civic minded corporations at the Super Bowl and at other advertising opportunities.