"One Day One Bag" is a reminder to be kind to Mother Earth.

The Portsmouth City Health Department, Scioto County Clean Team and Century 21 Empire Team invites all residents to take a few minutes Tuesday - Earth Day - to pick up litter around their homes, businesses, or anywhere litter is found on the ground.

Residents are urged to collect litter in plastic grocery bags and put them in their own city garbage can. If the litter is paper, plastic or aluminum, bags can be put in any one of the several Rumpke Recycling Dumpsters, which are located around town. Gloves will be available at the health department from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Kelly Raies of the Scioto County Clean Team said the goal of the campaign is to make residents aware of what the community looks like and trying to keep the town clean.

Peggy Burton, commissioner of the Portsmouth City Health Department, said sometimes people want to participate in activities, but may not know how to go about participating.

"'One Day One Bag' is something everyone can do that won't be too much for any one person," Burton said. "Together, it can make a huge impact on our community."

Raies added, "Earth Day is a great day every year for people to remember this is our Earth. We need to take care of it."

She encouraged residents to do a little bit extra, whether it's planting a tree or recycling.

"One Day One Bag" is simple and doable for everyone, Raies said.

"You don't have to give up a whole day," Raies said. "Take a store bag you probably already have at home, look around your property or wherever you are. If we could just get hundreds of people involved and just take five or 10 minutes on Tuesday, it could make a huge impact."

Raies also will be making presentations at the schools on Earth Day to talk about litter and recycling.

"If we can reach more kids, we'll reach a whole generation to let them know it's wrong to litter," Raies said.

DEBORAH DANIELS can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 234.