Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

For the second straight year, an effort is underway to rid Gates County roadways of unsightly trash.

Gates County Community Cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, April 23. The event coincides with Earth Day on April 22.

Organized once again by Tricia Mercer Lewis, county citizens and groups/organizations can register to collect roadside litter.

“Last year’s spring community roadside clean up was a huge success,” said Lewis on the Community Cleanup’s Facebook page. “Together we collected 300-plus bags of litter and over 3,000 pounds of tires.

“Unfortunately the litter has plagued our beautiful roadsides again,” she continued. “Want to help clean it up? We need you! Please volunteer!”

Lewis said whether you can cleanup a roadside for 15 minutes or longer, your time makes a difference.

“Pick up and bag as much trash as you can so that our county’s roads are restored and renewed to their natural state,” Lewis noted.

Here is how to sign up:

Form a team – get together with your family, friends, friends, neighbors, church groups, co-workers, etc.

Choose a team leader – they will be the “go-to” person to relay information and will also collect and distribute the supplies their team will need for the job. Team leaders are asked to send a message to the Gates County Community Cleanup’s Facebook page. That message needs to include the number of team members and the name of the road the team will be cleaning.

The trash bags will be provided (and later picked-up) by NCDOT.

“If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to message the group,” Lewis stated.