AHOSKIE – Local citizens are being asked to do their part to clean-up and protect the natural beauty that is on abundant display across the Roanoke-Chowan area.

On Saturday, several local organizations are coming together near the Main Street railroad crossing in downtown Ahoskie, near No Man’s Land Park, to celebrate Earth Day.

From 9 a.m. until 12 noon, citizens can safely dispose of trash and debris (except for tires) that they would normally pay a fee to dump at the landfill.

Nucor of Hertford County, the world’s largest recycler and major proponent of Earth Day, is the event’s main sponsor. Others taking part include the Town of Ahoskie, the Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce, Hertford County Cooperative Extension, and the NC Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Ace Hardware and Wisdom Produce will be on hand selling plants for Mother’s Day. The idea is planting is great for the environment!

Waffle Waffle will have food options and the new Ahoskie Museum (located on the corner of Main and Railroad streets) will be open that morning.

Items that can be disposed of include scrap metal, white goods, farm implements, auto parts, paint, solvents, pesticides, electronics, batteries, plastics, florescent light bulbs, and used motor oil.

For more information about the local event, call 252-356-3700.

Founded in 1970, Earth Day is now a global event each year where more than 1 billion people in 192 countries take part in what is the largest civic-focused day of action in the world.

It is a day of political action and civic participation. People march, sign petitions, meet with their elected officials, plant trees, clean up their towns and roads. Corporations and governments use it to make pledges and announce sustainability measures.