Zero Litter Plans Trash Mob Shake

This weekend Zero Litter is putting a little shake in its trash mob videos.

Zero Litter has developed the idea of a trash mob as a kind of flash mob that shows up at a particular trashy area, and in about 30 minutes, cleans up the garbage at the site. The initiative has used Internet videos in fast forward to demonstrate the amount of impact a group of people can have in a short time on the city’s litter problem.

"We’re trying to show people they don’t need to do a 10 hour day of service, they don’t need to do hundreds of hours of service to make a difference," said Zero Litter founder and Hampden resident George Peters.

But this weekend, when Zero Litter’s trash mob descends at 4 p.m on 1917 Ridgehill Ave. in Mondawmin, the video will have a little different take as the group co-ops the "Harlem Shake" meme.

The idea to use the concept came from Councilman Nick Mosby, who has been working with Zero Litter and his One Piece initiative to address litter in the city.

“[I thought] it would be great to take something that’s fun, and very popular, and combine it with a very serious issue in our city,” Mosby said.  

Peters said he expects between 50 and 150 people to show up and do the "Harlem Shake" with trash grabbers and trash bags in their hands. But he said he saving a special role front and center for Mosby for inspiring the idea.  

Mosby said he was looking forward to participating.

"Yeah, I think I can dance. I think I have rhythm, so we’ll see," Mosby said.    

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