BATON ROUGE, LA — November 6, 2019 — Today, Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome announced the results of the October 2019 installment of Operation Fresh Start, the mayor’s parish-wide litter abatement and beautification campaign. Operation Fresh Start began on Saturday, October 19 with a volunteer-led community cleanup effort at several locations across East Baton Rouge Parish. The Mayor’s office partners with Keep Baton Rouge Beautiful, the local non-profit serving as the principle anti-litter organization in the greater Baton Rouge region.

From Monday, October 21 through Monday, October 28, East Baton Rouge Public Works crews aggressively cleared litter and blight throughout the parish. More than 150 volunteers championed six community cleanups in an effort to reduce blight and remove litter in highly visible corridors.

This month’s Operation Fresh Start produced the following results:

• Nearly 138 tons (275,760 lbs.) of trash and debris collected and disposed
• 1,959 abandoned tires in the public right-of-way collected and disposed
• 1,952 illegally placed signs collected and disposed
• 104 potholes filled
• 226 trash and debris piles collected and disposed

Additionally, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) participated in Operation Fresh Start by removing tree limbs growing near barrier rails along Interstate 10 and 110 corridors. DOTD also cleared clogged catch basins on state highways, patched potholes and cleared debris and broken concrete beneath the interstate system and in parking areas. Republic Services also joined the program by supporting cleanup efforts and providing equipment and supplies for the volunteer cleanup.

“Improving the appearance and quality of place of all of East Baton Rouge Parish remains a priority for our citizens and for my administration,” said Mayor-President Broome. “These quarterly Operation Fresh Start beautification efforts not only show our commitment to eliminating litter and reducing blight, but they also bring together this community around a common cause that is a driving force for positive change.”

Since it began in July 2018, Operation Fresh Start has netted the collection of over 845 tons of trash and debris, the disposal of 8,277 illegally abandoned tires, and over 3,000 bags of trash.

The next installment of Operation Fresh Start will take place in the first quarter of 2020. For more information, contact Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Rowdy Gaudet at 225-389-5109.