City of Columbus and ODOT Crews Pick Up a Combined 100,000 Pounds of Trash

ODOT Wins Step Up & Pick Up Challenge

COLUMBUS - The weights are in, and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is victorious. City of Columbus and ODOT crews spent the week leading up to Earth Day competing to see who could pick up the most litter from city and state roadways. 

Throughout the week, the city and state not only talked trash, they picked it up too. While City of Columbus personnel collected 42,830 pounds of trash, the first place prize is awarded to ODOT for picking up a whopping 1,069 bags of trash weighing 58,800 pounds in just four days.

"I wish this were one contest we didn't have to wage. However, the amount of trash picked up by our ODOT crews is impressive and I am extremely proud of their hard work and dedication," said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks. "ODOT came out on top, but more than 1,000 bags of garbage that's no longer along our roadsides makes Columbus residents and visitors the true winners. Let's keep Ohio beautiful!"

"Our team faced a worthy opponent, and I thank Director Marchbanks and this team for participating in this friendly competition," said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. "Congratulations to our city crews for their tremendous effort to clean up almost 43,000 pounds of litter! I hope their hard work to attack this ugly problem inspires greater respect for our environment and for our neighborhoods."

Each year, the city and state dedicate significant resources to litter clean-up, a persistent and preventable problem. Both sides urge people to do their part by properly securing their load before they hit the road, and by throwing trash in a garbage can, or a recycling bin if possible. 

"Our crews do an excellent job, but we rely on drivers and volunteers to help with the litter problem too," said District 6 Deputy Director Lori Niese Duguid. "Not only should you refrain from throwing trash out the window, but you can also get involved by signing up for ODOT's Adopt-a-Highway program to keep state roadways beautiful and clean." 

"Our city crews and partners work aggressively on litter abatement in our community," said Jennifer L. Gallagher, Columbus Public Service Director. "But it is up to each of us to make litter cleanup unnecessary. Prevent litter, and protect our environment, by properly disposing of trash." 

For more information and to get involved in Keep Columbus Beautiful cleanups in your neighborhood, email keepcolumbusbeautiful@columbus.gov. To learn more about ODOT's Adopt-a-Highway program and register your group, visit transportation.ohio.gov/litter. 

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NOTE TO MEDIA: Video interviews and b-roll available for download here.