Arlington’s Clean Team collects over 5 tons of litter in effort to beautify city

A city that bills itself as the “American Dream City” should also be a clean city, officials in Arlington believe.

To back this up, they have created the Clean Corridor Program, nicknamed the “Clean Team” for short. It is a team of four staff members who patrol thoroughfares to address overall aesthetics, litter, lighting and deteriorated or damaged public infrastructure.

The program began in March and so far has rid the city of:

▪ 16,510 pounds of litter.

▪ 8,930 pounds of illegal dumping.

▪ 434 illegal signs.

▪ 63 shopping carts.

Nora Coronado, the city’s director of asset management, said the program is the city’s response to the council’s priority on clean and attractive neighborhoods.

“Everyone — our residents, businesses, and visitors alike — deserve clean, safe, and an attractive environment,” Coronado said.

Examples of Clean Team’s work

Coronado cited an example of the Clean Team’s work is removing overhanging tree limbs in the right-of-way to maintain visibility and function for pedestrians and drivers, along with making sure sidewalks are free of obstructions. Another is reporting a possible homeless encampment to police and code compliance to work together, and clean up if needed.

“The Clean Team is already making a noticeable impact by keeping our corridors clear of litter, illegal dumping, and overgrown weeds, helping to create a cleaner and more welcoming Arlington,” Mayor Jim Ross said. “This initiative strengthens our ability to respond quickly to problem areas while supporting long-term improvements in how our city presents itself to both residents and visitors. It reflects our commitment to being consistent, visible, and accountable in the care of our public spaces.”

The initial focus of the Clean Team was on immediate cleanup needs. The end goal is to develop a long-term maintenance strategy and beautification strategy.

For example, the Clean Team reports damaged infrastructure and recurring problem areas to internal city work order systems, allowing other resources to be allocated to address those issues. Officials note that locations such as Ryan Plaza, Sublett Road, and Green Oaks Boulevard have already shown noticeable improvement.

“We’ll go on our computer in the morning and check any reports, any requests. We’ll go out to the site and we’ll take care of it. We’ll clean it up,” said Clean Team member Brandon Morphis.

Public’s response to the Clean Team program

Morphis noted that public feedback has been positive concerning the program.

“I’ve had somebody come up to me and say, ‘Man, I’m glad this is finally getting taken care of,’” he said. “It looks good and it makes you feel good.”

Morphis recommended citizens download the Ask Arlington app to reach out to the city.

Beyond aesthetics, they cite that the program also enhances public health and safety by reducing environmental hazards.

Coronado said that ultimately achieving and maintaining the council’s goal will require the city and its citizens to realize a shared responsibility. By that, she explained that the public has a role and the city has a role.

“For example, on one end of the spectrum, people can refrain from littering, which is not only unattractive but can possibly be hazardous. On the other end of the spectrum, people can band together and have litter cleanup events in their neighborhoods, or parks, etc.,” she said. “For the City, there is making sure we deliver quality services like trash/recycling collection, maintaining clean and mowed medians and working infrastructure like streetlights and signals, and providing education and enforcement of city laws for issues like illegal bandit signs, illegal dumping, dilapidated fences, high weeds and grass, etc.

“And there are always opportunities for the public and city to work together.”

This story was originally published July 24, 2025 at 1:12 PM.