Worcester's Regional Environmental Council spent Saturday cleaning up the city as part of their annual Earth Day clean ups.

The event started in 1989, but didn't happen in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This year, volunteers had a little extra to clean up at fifty sites across the city, while following COVID-19 protocols.

The council said the trash has really accumulated and it’s noticeable after the snow melts. 

Organizers said it’s a great way to bring the community together to give the city the spring cleaning it deserves.

"The beautiful thing about this event every year is people from all walks of life, neighbors, strangers, everybody's getting together, socially distanced this year, picking up trash, cleaning the city, doing something to make a positive difference in our community,” Regional Environmental Council​ executive director Steve Fischer said. “And it's a really beautiful way to spend a Saturday morning and honor Earth Day."

Roughly 600 volunteers helped out. 

They expected to remove around 50 tons of trash. 

The Regional Environmental Council is hoping make a positive impact on the city’s environment and work on issues of environmental justice and food justice.​