City Public Works Administrator Justin Holland said a new vacuum gadget added to city leaf pickup trucks is waging war successfully on litter around the city.
He said an operator uses a joy stick to suck up a steady stream of carelessly tossed drink cups, cans, paper plates, bags and straws.
Mr. Holland said the same steel grinder that deals with mounds of leafs, sticks and rocks also slices up the litter.
He said it is part of a pilot program that he said is proving valuable in cleaning up city streets.
Public Works is seeking funding in the upcoming city budget for three new employees as operators.
Mr. Holland said the leaf trucks are now used only one season a year. With the new attachment, they can be effectively utilized year round, he said.
The daily collections are taken to a transfer station for hauling to a landfill.
Mr. Holland said the schedule is primary streets first, then secondary streets, then neighborhood streets.
"We plan to get around to every street in Chattanooga, he said.