State employee volunteers will be removing litter from designated state highways on April 5 as part of the annual Trash Bash event.

Trash Bash is designed to raise the public’s awareness of the negative impact that litter has on the state’s economy, according to a statement from the Mississippi Department of Transportation. Mississippi motorists are urged to be on the watch for the volunteers who will be working around designated state highways.

“MDOT works hard to educate the public about the detrimental effect that litter has on the state of Mississippi,” Northern District Transportation Commissioner Bill Minor said. “Litter on our roadways is a serious problem.”

The agency said it spends more than $2 million each year on litter removal.