Cedar Rapids participates in world record for trash collection

CEDAR RAPIDS - As cars zipped along Interstate 380 through Cedar Rapids on Saturday, drivers probably noticed not the litter on the sides of the road, but the people carrying orange trash bags.

The 70 volunteers picking up litter weren't just doing a good deed - there was a world record to set.

That's why all along the Avenue of the Saints, from St. Paul to St. Louis, the scene that drivers saw Saturday along I-380 in Cedar Rapids repeated itself.

As volunteer Julie Hovey of Cedar Rapids explained, 'It's called the ‘Avenue of Saints' going from St. Paul to St. Louis. It's supposed to be the longest stretch of land that trash is collected (on continuously) in one day.”

Megan Murphy, utilities communication director for the city of Cedar Rapids, said the litter cleanup event has been going on for years, but the world record attempt was added this year to boost enthusiasm.

She noted that litter is prevalent across the country and will continue to be unless changes are made.

'It's not so much a bigger issue in Cedar Rapids than it is in other communities,” Murphy said. 'Every community struggles with it, especially along highways. I hope if we pick up more, we can curb the littering in the first place.”

While it will be some time before the announcement is made on whether the world record was set, volunteers were surprised at the amount of trash.

'You don't notice (the litter) on the highway when you're driving, but when you're up close, you can really see the problem,” Hovey said.

Volunteer Lisa Moritz of Marion brought her daughter so they both could play a role in keeping the highway cleaner.

'You have to bring them when they're young or else they won't want to go when they're older,” Moritz said. 'We picked up a lot of trash, six or seven bags in just one small area on one side of the road.”

Moritz's daughter, Emily, asked the simple question that city officials are trying to solve.

'If no one picks up the trash, then who is going to?” she said. 'We need to keep our Earth and water clean for people.”

Cleaning up the highway can be 'manual work,” Murphy said, and volunteer Vansi Nelluta said he has a new respect for the people who regularly do that kind of work.

'People were honking at us and waving, which was really motivating,” he said. 'Next time you see someone cleaning up the highway, I'll definitely appreciate it more.”