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'Pick Up The Patch' Initiative Begins In Next Week In N.D.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Petroleum Council's annual Pick Up the Patch campaign is slated to begin in Minot and New Town on Friday.

The effort is aimed at cleaning up garbage that's littering the oil patch in western North Dakota. It's being organized by community leaders and oil and gas companies operating in the area.

Similar clean-up efforts are slated through the month in Williston, Watford City, Dickinson, Tioga and Stanley.

The North Dakota Petroleum Council started the clean-up campaign in 2012 after complaints of the growing trash problem spurred by oil development.

Last year, more than 800 volunteers collected about 1,000 bags of trash in communities and along some 125 miles of roadways.

(© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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