2012 was the twelfth consecutive year of 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.

At a value of 1037 individual pieces of trash, the year 2013 achieved a total slightly below the twelve year average of 1054. 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).

In the past year, 1037 individual pieces of trash, an average of three per day, were retrieved from the Foxcroft Road. Most of the trash was recycled.

The perennial nicotine champion, Marlboro, accounted for 42% of the tobacco total with Camel second at 30%, and Newport third at 8%. The relative numbers of tobacco products increased their percentage from 5% in 2010 to 9% of total trash in 2012, and that percentage holds steady in 2013 with Marlboro totals falling vs. Camel. According to the CDC, tobacco is the root cause of 30% of all cancers and 80% of lung cancer.

In the New Age-Soft Drink category, there was close competition between, the duopoly, Coca Cola and Pepsico (58 vs. 52 in absolute numbers or 27% vs. 24% of the New Age-soft drink group). Coke was able to establish a slim two year lead over its oldest rival, Pepsico, both of which are slightly down this year.

The Fast Food group sustained 7% growth in 2013. A total 12% of all trash in 2012, Fast Food this past year accounted for 19% of all road trash. It is surprising given that the nearest fast food business establishment is at least 25 minutes driving time away from Middleburg. To date the Middleburg Town Council has been able to turn away the largess of the fast food sector.

A new comer, Wendy's, accounted for 15% of fast food, second place on the road, whilst Seven-11 slipped to 13% and perennial champion McDonald's was responsible for 27%.

In the Beer, Wine, and Booze category, Miller/Coors and Corona/Modelo must share second place to AB INBev. AB INBev currently controls 55% of Foxcroft Road beer cans and bottles, whereas SABMiller controls only 13% of market share with Grupo Modelo moving up to 13%. A new comer, Spark's, has 9% of the beer group.

AB INBev accounted for a full 7% of all road trash, which is a significant drop from 14% in 2012 and an egregious drop from 26% in 2006. A casual observer might note that during the administration of President George W. Bush, the number of Budweiser products averaged greater than 200 per year. Currently, under President Obama, In Bev AB's total products on the road have precipitously dropped to less than 100. Could this be the making of a social and political scandal? Perhaps In Bev AB consumers are simply more responsible than the Budweiser users. Maybe a clever marketing campaign starting with a return of August Busch IV hawking "Bud" at the Super Bowl might turn things around.

Generally a fourfold drop in the use of one's product would be a cause for some concern in the board room.

AB INBev with 7% (72 pieces) of individual trash exceeded CocaCola's absolute total of 5% (58 pieces). This year the "Trashy Ten" accounted for 39% of all road trash. The cumulative total number of pieces of trash per year generally averages approximately 1100. 86% of this trash clearly bears the label of a commercial entity. 14% of all trash could be said to be "accidental."

Though they have good and bad years, the following readily recognizable corporate entities are ranked in order of gross trash production on the public roads:

1. AB IN Bev (72), production is down 7% from 2012.
2. Coca Cola (58), up 9% from 2012
3. McDonald's (54), up 47% from 2012
4. Pepsico (52), up 4% from 2012.
5. Marlboro. (41), down 21% from 2012.
6. Camel (31), up 81% from 2012.
7. Wendy's (30), up 900% from 2012.
8. 7-Eleven (25), down 26% from 2012.
9. Red Bull (19), up 27% from 2012.
10. Deer Park (18), down 14% from 2012.

This year's Foxcroft Road Pig Pen individual grand prize is awarded to AB INBev, despite a decreased trash production by 7% from 2012. AB INBev and its predecessor Anheuser-Busch still should be awarded the coveted title of "King of the Road." However, the duopoly of Coca-Cola and Pepsico (110) actually out duel AB InBev alone. Also, the junk food trifecta of McDonald's – Wendy's – 7-11 (109) are close at hand.