In the community garden plots along Stanton Avenue on the edge of Highland Park, urban farmers have begun turning over the earth, sowing seeds and watering their plantings.

	Want to take part? Volunteers are still needed for all cleanup sites. For more information on the Great Pennsylvania Cleanup, or to find or register a cleanup, visit DEP's Web site at www.dep.state.pa.us and click on the Great Pennsylvania Cleanup logo. Or call toll-free 1-888-548-8372. For more information or to register for the Negley Run Boulevard cleanup, call Ginnette Walker at 412-431-4449, ext. 243.

But just behind that patchwork of plots, on the wooded, mountain-goat-steep hillside that tumbles down to Negley Run Boulevard, is a bitter harvest from previous growing seasons.

Littering the slope are hundreds, maybe thousands, of white, clear and green plastic bottles and jugs that were used to carry water to the garden plots and then pitched once they were empty.

This Saturday an army of volunteers will tackle the slope, one of 485 cleanup locations around the state targeted this weekend by the first Great Pennsylvania Cleanup, a new part of the state's observance of Earth Day/Earth Week.

There are scores of old tires, beer cans and hubcaps, too, on the hillside and a rusty television chassis, a shopping cart, and a hot water tank. Two city signs warn: "No Dumping: up to $10,000 fine." Although the trashy terrain is hidden from view in summer by lush growths of Japanese knotweed and wild grapevine, the littered slope is an eyesore during spring's early greening.

"If there wasn't any trash on this hillside it would be gorgeous," said Ginette Walker, Pennsylvania Resources Council program coordinator, as she skirted a couple of gurgling springs and shale outcrops during a recent inspection. "There definitely has to be some education of those gardeners at the top of the hill to prevent this."

But first Walker is organizing about 100 volunteers to pick up trash Saturday. Around the state an army of volunteers will be going out to remove litter and trash from roadways, parks, forests, riverbanks, neighborhoods and open spaces.

The Cleanup's co-sponsors include the state departments of Environmental Protection, Transportation and Conservation and Natural Resources, and a host of business, civic groups and environmental organizations.

"We did not want to just do a photo-op Earth Day event. We wanted to get out and roll up our sleeves and do something tangible," said DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty, who is scheduled to visit the Negley Run site for a cleanup news conference today. "A number of people had that idea and together we hope that will result in a positive difference for our environment."

McGinty said organizers are encouraging wide involvement as a way to promote stewardship of common areas such as parks, river banks and roadsides.

"As we have turned our attention to air and water cleanup, I think we've lost some of the momentum borne of the old 'Keep America Beautiful' campaigns and the old Indian with a tear rolling down his face," McGinty said.

"Litter is going to be the Earth Day theme this year and every year going forward," McGinty said, "so we can reach a level of awareness that makes a difference."

Cleanups under the direction of local governments, Cub Scout troops, churches, schools and civic organizations have been organized at 34 sites in Allegheny County, including the Nine Mile Run Slag Pile in Squirrel Hill, the Heritage Trail in the South Side Flats, the Pallisades in McKeesport and the Walnut Street commercial district in Shadyside.

The cleanup at Negley Run Boulevard will start at 8:30 a.m. and go until 12:30 p.m. PennDOT will provide plastic trash bags and gloves to volunteers, who must pre-register, sign a waiver and listen to a safety talk before ascending the steep hillside.