As the MLB All-Star Game nears closer, the City of Cincinnati has been stepping up its own game; when it comes to trash. Road crews have been doing some extra tidying around major highways and roads that were once littered with trash. Cincinnati has also created more anti-littering campaigns to clean up around the city by encouraging everyone to do their share.

It’s All About Image

The question is, why put so much money towards cleanup and litter elimination? When a city hosts large events they want to show off their culture, provide local entertainment and be accommodating to visitors, all to create a good image for the city. One of the largest aspects of image can not be overlooked though, and that is cleanliness.

Highways: The Gateways to the City

The reason the City of CIncinnati has been paying so much attention to the litter problem on the highways is that the roads are the first experience a tourist will have when visiting a city. Let’s say you just got off the plane at CVG and are headed into the city on northbound I-71; if your first impression comes from trash sacks people have dumped on the side of the highway, you’re image of the city is already fairly negative. Making sure roadways are clear of trash and debris show that the city maintains their roads well and gives off the impression of cleanliness even if people don’t directly notice it.

Cleanliness is a State of Mind

It’s also important for the residents of the city to have a “clean” attitude. Anti-littering programs are incredibly important because the best way to solve the litter problem is to get to the source. Imagine you’re walking to Great American Ballpark for the game and on your way there you pass by people who nonchalantly toss their trash into the street. You then begin to notice all of the litter on the sidewalks and suddenly the city seems incredibly dirty. It’s also a turn-off for businesses in the area because if their is trash piled outside of a restaurant or bar, you’ll most likely infer that they don’t care for their building and must not care about their product and or service.

It’s Up to You

• Dispose of garbage in public trashcans
• Don’t litter cigarette butts
• Keep garbage in your car until you stop to throw it out
• Encourage others to be responsible too

To get involved, visit Keep Cincinnati Beautiful’s website