Yellow bags were plentiful along roadsides across the state as volunteers chipped in to clean up litter on roadways during the 2007 No MOre Trash! Bash in April.

Twenty-five MoDOT employees, including Director Pete Rahn, stepped up to clean central office’s Adopt-A-Highway section on Missouri Boulevard and another section along Route 50 on April 16 in support of the No MOre Trash! Bash.

“We were encouraging other people to get outside and help clean up trash, so it was only fitting that we did the same,” said Director Pete Rahn. “We hope that residents saw us and were encouraged to chip in, too.” 

Thousands of others helped clean up trash, including MoDOT crews, Missouri Department of Conservation Stream Team members and other employees, Adopt-A-Highway participants, incarcerated crews and other volunteers.

Many clean up events and activities also took place around the state in April in honor of the Bash, including the 2007 Earth Day Celebration held on the capital lawn in Jefferson City. More than 1,500 people attended the event where MoDOT handed out seedlings, encouraged attendees to sign the litter pledge and hosted other games/activities.

“Although this year got off to a slow start because of the record low temperatures in the beginning of April, the activity seems to have picked up later in the month,” said Stacy Armstrong, Roadside Management supervisor. “Volunteers were asked to report their trash pick up activities by May 15, so we should have the final numbers soon.” 

The month-long Bash supports No MOre Trash!, a year-round litter prevention campaign established by the Missouri departments of Conservation and Transportation. Volunteers who reported their activity were recognized for their efforts with a lapel pin. Campaign results will be reported in a future Connections issue.