Christmas cleanup set to begin along Loop 360 trees

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) - A local nonprofit is asking for volunteers this weekend to help clean up what's left of an Austin Christmas tradition. With the Christmas holiday wrapping up, the process of cleaning up decorations placed on Cedar trees along Loop 360 is set to begin. 

"To work and ensure that all of our open spaces stay clean and clear of debris and this cleanup has often been a result that," said Rodney Ahart, executive director of Keep Austin Beautiful.

For the last six years, Keep Austin Beautiful has organized volunteer cleanup days attracting hundreds of people to collect discarded decorations.

It's become an Austin tradition for many in the recent years said Ahart. "I think everyone who drives along 360 notices the trees and so I think people are ever mindful of that. With the holidays being over everyone is taking down decorations at their own homes I think everyone is mindful of the fact that we have decorations in some parts of our greenbelt that need to be collected as well," said Ahart. 

It's close to two weeks after Christmas. Most of the ornaments and garlands are still on the trees, but some have made their way to the ground posing problems for wildlife and the environment. 

"We want to make sure that the decorations that are placed on the trees along the road ways don't end up in our water ways don't end up on our green belts,"  said Ahart. 

Keep Austin Beautiful is asking for volunteers this weekend to help clean up what's left. "We welcome all volunteers. Last year we had around 80 to hundred people and this year we have around that number, "said Ahart. 

Keep Austin Beautiful will host this year's cleanup on Saturday, Jan. 6, starting at 8:30 a.m.

Volunteers are asked to register first. Volunteers will meet in the empty lot in front of the Canyon Springs apartment complex at 7700 North Capital of Texas Highway.