Pittsburgh officials look to clean up communities, break records at this year's 'Garbage Olympics'

Pittsburgh officials say they are expecting this year’s sixth annual Garbage Olympics to break records when it’s held later this month.

The first citywide cleanup event held in 2017 drew just five teams.

Last year’s event attracted 46 teams with over 620 volunteers who collected nearly 1,200 bags of trash, 375 tires and 195 televisions that had been littering the city.

“The Garbage Olympics allows anyone to make an impact in their neighborhood,” said Renee Robinson, a co-founder and organizer of the event.

The city’s Department of Public Works said the event will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Sept. 17.

Public Works and the Clean Pittsburgh Commission will provide bags, gloves, safety vests and litter grabbers.

The city’s e-waste recycling vendor, E-Loop, will retrieve the collected refuse to properly dispose of it.

Residents looking to participate can join an existing neighborhood team as a volunteer or register a new one online.

Maria Montaño, a spokeswoman for Mayor Ed Gainey, will announce the winning teams in a ceremony at noon at Threadbare Cider House in Spring Garden.

Chris Mitchell, the city’s anti-litter specialist, said cleaning up litter “isn’t just a single, isolated action.”

Mitchell added: “That act raises pride in our community. It makes our community stronger. It makes the land and water around us cleaner and healthier. And it discourages further littering by keeping (the community) clean in the first place.”