Keep Bermuda Beautiful (KBB) is inviting all of Bermuda to take part in the charity's annual 'Spring Clean'.

The Island-wide event takes place on Saturday and is one of the organisation's largest. Groups of volunteers will work at some of Bermuda's most garbage-riddled areas cleaning up litter from roadsides, marine debris from beaches and illegally dumped household waste from the railway trails. For more information and to learn how to help, call KBB on 295-5142 or email kbb@northrock.bm.

"KBB encourages all of Bermuda's volunteer and community groups, sports clubs, schools and businesses, neighbourhoods, families and individuals to join its spring clean efforts and improve the living environments that we all call home," said a KBB spokeswoman. "Everyone has enjoyed a walk along the railway trail or visit to the beach and seen discarded food wrappers and disposable containers, plastic drinks bottles and cigarette litter," added the spokeswoman.

"It's ugly and dangerous. Litter and marine debris threatens the health of the environment, wildlife, and marine life. Litter breeds mosquitoes and rats which can compromise our own health. The sight of our Island's roadside litter, marine debris and illegal dumping could threaten Bermuda's reputation for pristine beauty and status as a tourist destination."

According to statistics cited in a KBB press release, last year volunteers cleaned up 43 tons of litter, recyclables and bulky waste from Bermuda's roadsides, railway trails and beaches. So far this year, an additional ten tons have been removed in different clean-ups from the land.