AUGUSTA, Ga. () – Litter is unsightly, and Mayor Garnett Johnson says leaving it on the ground can be costly to Augusta.

“It’s important to economic development, you know, when people are riding around should they invest their dollars either from a business standpoint from an industrial standpoint. It’s important that we show that we care enough about this community to keep it clean,” said Mayor Johnson.

That’s why Augusta is preparing to launch a new approach to clean up litter, called Operation City Cleanup.
The plan is to work with the courts and law enforcement to use those sentenced to community service hours to boost city forces picking up litter.

“A more focused effort on cleaning up the city with more attention to our right of ways. You’re going to see a focused effort on enforcement through our Marshal’s Department and we so glad not only is the Sheriff’s Office helping us the state court, as well as the solicitor General. We can’t wait to present it to the general public tomorrow,” said Mayor Garnett Johnson.

“It’s been the Marshal’s Office mission the whole time. It’s great that the mayor sees we need it too and to have his support and have the city’s support to just make Augusta cleaner and better,” said Marshal Ramone Lamkin.

The mayor says the target areas will be highly visible areas, like tourists spots, parks and community centers.

“High traffic areas throughout the city, it will not only be focused downtown, it’s going to be out in South Richmond County – it’s going to be all over the county areas that really need help,” said Mayor Johnson.

Operation city cleanup plan goes to commissioners Tuesday, with the mayor saying this anti-litter effort will come with no extra cost to taxpayers.