After taking a break from the summer’s heat, Troy’s Anti-Litter Committee is preparing to kick off their district cleanups once again.

But, instead of starting at the beginning with District 1, they are adding an extra project to tackle first.

To help prepare the city for Troy University’s Homecoming game, the Anti-Litter Committee members will meet from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 29 to pick up trash from downtown Troy to Movie Gallery Stadium, said Anti-Litter Committee Coordinator Meredith McClendon.

Anti-Litter Committee President John Anderson said he encourages all local residents to attend the cleanup.

“We’ve got to keep pounding the city and the county to pick up trash,” Anderson said.

Once the committee finishes this special project, they will resume with their monthly cleanups, beginning with the city of Troy’s District 1.

But, cleaning up the districts are not the only way this committee plans to keep the streets of Troy litter-free.

Members discussed spreading awareness of litter and recycling in local schools, getting university students involved and trying to pick up more community involvement, as well.

“We’re going to try to get with school children. They seem to respond a little better than adults,” Anderson said. “We’re going to continue to clean up districts and continue to get athletic training students involved in putting P.A.L.S. trash bags up at tail gaiting, and we’re going to try awful hard to get the community aware of the fact a cleaner community attracts.”

In August, McClendon said several committee members attended a “Don’t Drop it on Alabama Anti-Litter Convention,” where they learned Troy is steps ahead of many in the state.

However, in the city, she said there is much left to be done.

“We have implemented so much more than even bigger cities have begun to do,” McClendon said. “(But), it’s heartbreaking to see some of the things we cleanup here.”

Public Works Director Vaughn Daniels said even though his department works to pick up trash it’s hard for them to keep up.

“My department does a lot of cleaning, but we can’t keep up with the litter,” Daniels said.