Tribune editorial staff

More than half a billion people around the world are expected to observe Earth Day today. As the world prepares to celebrate the 33rd annual event, some communities in Lawrence County are doing their part this week to help preserve the beauty of the area.

This week and next, Ironton residents can take advantage of the city's annual spring cleanup. Dumpsters will be available at the city's garage at 303 Hecla St. from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. every day until May 4. Dumping will be monitored by city employees.

Contractors are not allowed to dump construction waste and no tires or items with freon such as air conditioners, freezers or refrigerators will be accepted.

If residents have no way to haul the items themselves, they can call the mayor's office at 532-3833 to be put on a list for pickup.

And, for the volunteer-minded individuals, the city of Ironton will host its fourth-annual Volunteer Clean Up Day May 3. Each year hundreds of volunteers plant trees and flowers, pick up trash, clean up the parks, paint and do other things to give the city a makeover.

Through Friday, South Point will have its annual spring cleanup. Village workers, employees of Lawrence County Municipal Court and BFI will be out collecting trash, excluding tires and gas tanks. Village residents can place unwanted items outside their house on their normal trash pick-up day.

The village of Coal Grove, meanwhile, had its annual cleanup earlier this month. Through that program, which ended Saturday, residents were able to deposit trash in dumpsters at the village's water treatment plant.

We are fortunate to have communities that care enough about the environment to offer residents the means to dispose of refuse that they would otherwise have to haul to a dump. Not all communities organize a neighborhood cleanup effort and arrange for free trash pick up in support of the drive.

Earth Day provides us an excellent opportunity to renew the fight to protect our environment. Most people tied into the environmental movement probably already have plans for Earth Day today, but we can all make a difference in our community, country, and world by simply cleaning up a little bit.