SunFest cleanup process begins after five days of music and fun

The trash and recycling had piled up too.

Officials at Veolia Environmental Services said it takes employees three to three-and-a-half hours each night to pick up bottles, cans and plastic cups during SunFest. 

"There is a lot coming off the barges and stuff like that from all the drinks and everything, but there is probably about a hundred carts out here at night, said Veolia General Manager Joe Sandora. "And between last year and this year, they've really pushed the recycling end of it and you can really see it." 

This year's green efforts paid off, with more items being recycled and fewer items headed for the landfill, according to Sandora.

"Just a lot more stuff to clean up," Sandora said. "Everybody breaks everything down, they throw everything out in the middle of the road and we just come through and pick it all up."

The road closures could continue in downtown West Palm Beach through Wednesday.