Atlanta Mayor Planning to Draft Trash Troops in Wake of Cut Funding

Lynn Schenkman

Atlanta – Mayor Shirley Franklin is rallying city businesses, government and residents around her new anti-litter campaign that will lead scores of volunteers throughout the city on cleanup missions. Known as Trash Troops, these groups will help compensate for lost cleanup funding cut under Bill Campbell, Franklin’s predecessor. Campbell eliminated the $60,000 annual contribution to Keep Atlanta Beautiful and also disbanded the Clean City Commission.

Some City Council members have expressed disdain, saying Atlanta has gone downhill since the 1996 Olympics when streets were clean and swept. The city’s budget is tight, and Franklin said success of the Trash Troops will depend heavily on private contributions and volunteers. Franklin is known for her catchy approaches to city beautification. Last year, she dispatched the Pothole Posse to tend to Atlanta’s streets.