NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nearly 600 volunteers Saturday picked up trash at Percy Priest Lake, one of Nashville's most treasured -- and most littered -- spots.

Video: Volunteers Cleanup Percy Priest Lake

Channel 4 reported that it was the largest lake cleanup in Nashville history.

"There are grills, diapers, chairs -- everything you can imagine," organizer Laurel Creech said.

So much trash was being picked up that garbage bags were running low just a couple of hours into the effort, organizers said, and the official dump boat had all ready made several trips.

"We scouted half this small island -- able to fill up three large trash bags," volunteer David Gaviria said.

Gaviria and his two sons were on Bear Island, one of 10 islands that is being taken over by those trying to take away anything and everything.

Like many volunteers, Samantha Green said she often camps on one of the lake's 50 islands. She said the cleanup effort was a day to pick up an old summer friend that's had better days.

"This is an island we use, so (I) feel the need to help cleanup," Green said. "It started 50 years ago when people left their trash, and then someone else left their trash, and they're like, 'Oh, we'll leave our trash because trash is already here.' It's a little something to give back to the community because we do enjoy it."

Nearly everything used in the cleanup effort was donated. Elm Hill Marina, Nashville Shores and the Army Corps of Engineers donated boats and Waste Management donated Dumpsters and trash bags, officials said.

The effort took a year to plan, organizers said. They said it was the idea of an organization in Nashville dubbed "Team Green."

All collected trash will be sorted to determine what can be recycled, organizers said.