Philly Spring Cleanup volunteer sign up opens today

Notice all that trash swirling around Philadelphia neighborhoods, tossed about by the recent heavy winds?

Today, you have a chance to do something about it.

Registration opens for residents who want to volunteer, or submit project proposals, for the city's Fifth Annual Philly Spring Cleanup.

Organizations can submit project proposals until March 30.

The cleanup, which is run by the Philadelphia Streets Department, is scheduled for Saturday, April 14. The motto: "Keep Up the Sweep Up!"

The goal is to help put a stop to illegal dumping and litter.

The city says the effort has grown each year.

In 2011, 250 projects were submitted, and 12,000 people volunteered. Philadelphia officials distributed tens of thousands of trash bags, thousands of brooms, shovels and rakes, and gloves for the task.

Also last year:

-1,240,360 pounds of trash was removed.

-149,860 pounds of material was recycled.

-1,104 city blocks were cleaned.

-7,280 tires were removed.

-And 28 parks and 17 recreation centers were cleaned.

For information on how to submit a project or volunteer, go to: www.phillyspringcleanup.com.