A plan to continue tackling Wareham's litter problem was presented to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday.

The Board of Selectmen and town officials vowed to take on the trash after hearing a presentation from Onset resident David Willis on October 18. Willis and fellow residents have launched a beautification campaign and are hoping to work with the town to get the litter cleaned up from Wareham's streets and beaches.

Harbormaster Garry Buckminister has been working with the Municipal Maintenance Department, Willis, and the volunteers in the effort and presented the town's progress to the Selectmen.

Buckminster said he has a personal connection to the cause.

"I see it, I feel it," he said. "I oversee the largest natural resources the town has."

New barrels have been added across town, with lids designed to keep birds and other critters out. The team has also been moving barrels around and removing them from beaches in an effort to encourage people to take their trash with them as part of a "carry in, carry out" policy.

Buckminster said the new trash barrels are set further back from the road, so people can no longer roll down their windows to attempt to toss out garbage from their vehicles.

As part of the initiative, Buckminster, who oversees the town's lifeguards, instructed the guards to pick up the beaches at the beginning and end of their shifts last summer.

Officials and volunteers are also examining ways to educate Wareham's youth about the problem and get students involved in trash clean-up.

Town Administrator Mark Andrews reported that the Wareham High School Code Club contributed to the cause on October 22, participating in a nine-student park clean-up.

Selectman Cara Winslow said she was pleased to hear about the progress and to see the new trash cans, but voiced her concerns about not having proper cigarette butt receptacles, especially on the beach, where the butts are buried in the sand where children play. Buckminster said he would look into that issue.

In other town business:

Selectman Steve Holmes read a Veterans Day proclamation, which was given to the Veterans Day parade Grand Marshal Ted DuMoulin. He dedicated the proclamation to his late wife.

The Superintendent, chairman of the school committee, chair of the Finance Committee, Board of Selectmen chair Walter Cruz and Town Administrator Mark Andrews have planned a meeting Thursday to discuss Wareham's aging school bus fleet. Cruz will report back to the Selectmen at the board's next meeting.