At a public meeting in Athens, residents urged local leaders to step up anti‑litter efforts as volunteers reported large cleanup totals. Claire Tribble, executive director of Keep Athens Limestone Beautiful, said volunteers collected “7,820 pounds” of trash at the Tennessee River and called for continued public education and citizen action.

The call to action centered on tangible impacts and simple fixes. An attendee warned that “Imagine people getting off at Interstate Exit 351, and you see nothing but litter on the sides of the road” and said that visible trash can deter visitors and businesses. Tribble added that volunteers and city partners have made measurable progress but that ongoing attention is needed: “We picked up 7,820 pounds.” She said recent years showed lower totals — “2024, I I believe, yielded about 1,500 pounds, and then this past year was 1,400 pounds” — but that litter remains a problem.

Speakers tied the issue to Athens’ rapid growth and constrained service capacity. “We had 22,000 residents for the city of Athens in 2010. We now have 32,500,” an attendee said, arguing that population growth increases demands on municipal services. The same attendee described existing municipal capacity as modest: “We have 2 litter crews with the city of Athens and a 4 man team that goes out every day,” and said partnerships with Keep Athens Limestone Beautiful and the youth commission are part of the response.

Tribble outlined a simple, practical step residents can take: “One of the easiest things people could do to help would be to bag their trash when they put it in the bin that goes to the street.” She explained that loose trash can fall or blow out of collection trucks on highways, worsening roadside litter. Tribble also emphasized the role of volunteers, saying they are “willing and ready to come out and help” and praising adults who show up consistently.

Callers urged continued emphasis on public education and early‑morning cleaning routines used in other towns as examples. An attendee described a nearby town that keeps streets “spotless clean” by sending a crew out at 6 a.m. daily and said Athens needs a similar commitment.

No formal motion or vote was recorded in the transcript. Speakers urged continued volunteerism, education campaigns, and steady municipal attention to prevent roadside dumping and to maintain Athens’ appearance as it grows.