What is it that wires us in such a way that the concepts of “spring” and “clean” just seem to belong together? If it is not in our DNA, it’s certainly an activity that’s engrained in our behavior.

When spring comes around each year, homeowners eagerly open doors and windowsto let the fresh air in and begin to clean winter out. We putter in our yards, preparing for the new growing season.

Garages are swept and reorganized. A couple of my neighbors even sweep the streets, gathering the remaining antiskid into small piles for easier pickup by the borough employees.

My guess is that at least some of this tendency is an expression ofjoy at being outdoors on an invigorating spring day. Also, winter leaves a residue of dirt and debris that doesn’t complement spring’s freshness and vibrancy. We want to be rid of it.

Whether behavioral or genetic, though, our urge to spring-clean expresses itself in a variety of ways. At least one of those ways is truly an impressive one: the army of us who spring-clean our roadsides and waterways each year by picking up garbage, debris, tires and even appliances.

Here in Pennsylvania since 2004, the Keep America Beautiful and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful folks have organized this army through the “Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania.” This year, the effort began March 1 and will continue through May 31. Increasingly, you will see orange-vested volunteers piling bags and debris along highways for pickup.

According to the Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania website, (GACofPA.org) almost two million volunteers have gotten involved over the past 13 years. They’ve picked up 92 million pounds of litter and waste along 171,000 miles of roadway, waterways, shores and trails, including 259,000 tires and 226,000 pounds of scrap metal.

Families, citizens’ groups, watershed associations, school groups and scouts all organize clean-ups. By doing it through GACofPA.org, they can obtain valuable information, resources and supplies such as garbage bags, gloves and safety vests.

Another valuable resource for clean-up groups is being offered by the tire company, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. Through its “Tires4ward” program, Bridgestone will accept and recycles tires that have been collected during organized river and waterway clean-ups. Visit BridgestoneAmericas.com and click on “Responsibility” and “Environment.”

A number of clean-ups already have been scheduled around the region:

Armstrong Trail Clean-up, Kittanning: April 22, 9:00 a.m. to noon, (724) 664-5970.

Blairsville Community Clean-up: April 22, 8:30 a.m. to noon, (724) 331-6404.

Bobs Creek Watershed Clean-up, Pavia:April 1, 8:00 a.m. to noon, (814) 733-2394.

East Brady Clean-up: April 22, 10:00 a.m. to noon, (412) 759-9152.

Honan Avenue Trail, Johnstown:April 1, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., (814) 241-6123.

Kiski Watershed Clean-up, Apollo: April 29, 9:00 a.m. to noon, (724) 837-5271.

Latrobe Corridor Clean-up: April 22, 9:00 a.m. to noon, (724) 238-7560.

Ligonier Valley Clean-up: April 22, 9:00 a.m. to noon, (724) 238-7560.

Little Juniata River (in two counties):April 8, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., (814) 684-5922.

Mahoning Creek Lake, Smicksburg:April 9, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., (412) 719-9227.

Paint Creek Watershed, Windber:April 8, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., (814) 444-2699.

Stoystown Community Park:April 14, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., (814) 442-0432.

Westmoreland Land Bank, Greensburg: March 20, 9:00 a.m. to noon, (724) 879-4020.

If you don’t see something on this list that works for you – or if you are part of a group that wants to organize its own effort, visit GACofPA.org, where you can register your event and find all sorts of resources for getting organized and promoting your effort.

Spring’s coming (or may already be here)! You know you are going to want to give in to that urge to clean. Channeling it into an effort that benefits the community and the environment will be a fine way to experience the joy of the season.