Trash piles make a statement about littering

Preston, Conn. (WTNH) - A Preston man collected trash off the road and created his own pile of garbage to send a statement about littering.

Kevin Collins began picking up trash along Route 2A in Preston during his morning walks a few weeks ago and he says it piled up quickly.

"I had a huge pile up there at the intersection of 12 and 2A," he said. "The thing that was bothers me was there was so much trash on both sides of the road that it was depressing."

An exclusive News 8 video shows several piles of nip bottles, coffee cups, and other debris. The piles were built by Collins to bring attention to how much trash piles up along the popular route.

Collins says plastic bottles break down and make for dangerous fish food.

"If you're drinking and driving you have to get rid of the evidence, you have to throw it out the window," he said.

His efforts to combat this littering haven't gone unnoticed.

"This case it was one man and it was seven o'clock in the morning and he was going down the road," said Everett Harris.

Everett and Mary Harris live along Route 2A.

"I think it's very nice of him. If I was younger I'd do the same thing," Mary Harris joked.

The piles have certainly grabbed attention prompting several complaints to town hall. The state is expected to pick them up.

"I want to tell people get out there take a walk pick up some trash and don't depend on your government to do this the government has enough on their hands," said Collins.

Already a new bottle has been tossed along the side of the road. Collins says he's not going tobe walking along Route 2A anymore picking up trash because this road is just to busy and too dangerous. He says he'll continue to do so though on his own street.