TAMPA, Fla. — It's a big job cleaning up after the big game. The City of Tampa has already thrown out 10 tons of garbage following the Super Bowl.
The city's solid waste department identified hotspots for all the mess. They included the area around the Raymond James Stadium, South Howard and Ybor.
Mark Wilfalk, the director for Tampa's Solid Waste Department, said crews spotted the most trash along Ybor's iconic 7th Avenue after crowds of people convened all weekend.
"I would say that was the worst," he said. "It's like every trash receptacle that you see along 7th was full."
Wilfalk says while the worst of it has been cleared out, there are about 60 workers getting up bright and early and hitting up the hot zones. The bill for cleaning service along is $50,000 and counting.
“We always pride ourselves on flying beneath the radars. Nobody thinks about solid waste until it’s not collected right," he said. "While everybody was asleep and resting our crews were out there early in the morning making sure they can get those right of ways and thoroughfares clean and free of debris.”
Meanwhile, Parks and Rec was also involved in the cleanup. The agency was tasked with two miles along the Riverwalk.
Sherisha Hills, the interim director, says it wasn't as bad as Gasparilla but what stood out was the fact people threw in street signs into the waterways.
NFL crews are also working on removing fencing, banners, stage equipment and more.
The city expects it will take almost two weeks for Tampa to go back to normal.
