Crews were out early this week in Pearl River County cleaning up trash before they cut grass on the shoulders.

Some motorists may have noticed a large pile of trash on the Interstate 59 on-ramp at exit 6 Monday. That trash was collected by crews that had been contracted to pick up the trash in an effort to clear the sides of the interstate of debris before mowing took place, said Culpepper Enterprises Incorporated employee Leon Speights.

Mississippi Department of Transportation southern district assistant maintenance engineer Cape Jones said mowing usually takes place about three times a year. Mowing is either conducted by MDOT or contract companies.

Speights said he estimated about 5,000 pounds of trash was picked up by the crews from Carriere to the Louisiana state line.