COLUMBUS – Every year for Earth Day, employees at Golden Artist Colors step away from their paint stations and don neon orange vests to help clean up the company’s hometown of Columbus.

According to Safety and Health Specialist Alysen Parsons, who has coordinated the event for the last five years, more than 60 percent of Golden’s employees pitched in to clean up approximately 45 miles of road in the area.

“It’s the highest turnout we’ve had for the event, but we’ve been increasing steadily each year,” she said.

Parsons explained they only missed two roads in the town in order to cover two miles of State Route 80, which she said needed a few extra hands due the amount of garbage.

Last year, the group collected more than a ton of garbage, which was brought to the county landfill on a 20-yard roll-off provided by Bert Adams Disposal. According to a press release by Jodi O’Dell, corporate communications specialist, the waste disposal company has supported the event for the last five years

Golden Artist provides the vests, garbage bags and money for disposal of the garbage. New York State also provided garbage bags for the clean-up of Rt. 80.