Last Saturday, 850 people signed up to help clean up Marlboro County as part of the County-wide Community Clean-up Day.
Officials said 24 tons of garbage was picked up.
"There was an assortment of garbage from tin cans to dead possums," said Ron Munnerlyn, county administrator.
Volunteers could be found on the side of roads and in ditches picking up various trash ranging from tires to Styrofoam cups.
Beth Flowers noticed this as she drove from her home in McColl to volunteer with her church, Blenheim Community Church.
"It is a great first step for the community," she said. "It was well organized with great supplies."
Munnerlyn said county officials were amazed at the turnout.
"It far exceeded what we hoped for," he said.