By Brenna R. Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Today, Tristate communities are 342,200 pounds of trash cleaner.

On Saturday 4,271 volunteers in 86 local communities picked up trash, tires, appliances and anything else littering the streets as part of Keep Cincinnati Beautiful.

"One person found someone's paycheck from yesterday (Friday)," said Kerry Crossen, events coordinator for Keep Cincinnati Beautiful.

In Northside, 180 volunteers cleaned up parking lots, vacant lots and illegal dumps, in addition to streets.

"We can definitely see a difference," said Reggie Kuhns, who helped lead the Northside cleanup. Volunteers in Northside found a 15-foot round pool, a refrigerator, car seats and furniture, among other items.

"Next year we're going to give a prize for the most unusual item," Kuhns said.

In Corryville 115 people cleaned up about 24 tons of trash, said Dan Schimberg, Corryville Community Council president.

Volunteers also helped elderly residents rid their back yards of debris.

An old Coca-Cola machine was found in some brush. "It took six people to get it up and out," Schimberg said.

Clifton Heights had about 250 volunteers including University of Cincinnati students working to beautify the area, Crossen said.

Other cleanup areas included Over-the-Rhine, West End, Reading, Covington and Florence, and Aurora and Dillsboro, Ind. In one event, volunteers cleaned up 40 Cincinnati intersections.

In the Tristate volunteers removed 4,172 old tires from streets and vacant lots, Crossen said.

Volunteers also planted about 650 trees, shrubs and bushes.

Keep Cincinnati Beautiful is part of Keep America Beautiful.

Last year about 5,000 people collected 293,985 pounds of trash.

E-mail bkelly@enquirer.com