For decades, Pittsburghers have been told to "redd up" their rooms.

This month, volunteers across the Sewickley Valley will redd up their towns in celebration of Earth Day and Pittsburgh's 250th anniversary.

Locally, three communities -- Aleppo, Bell Acres and Leetsdale -- are part of dozens of Allegheny County towns taking part in the PA CleanWays clean ups this month.

While most litter-gitters tackle major arteries through Pittsburgh neighborhoods, nearly 50 people will help clean up a section of Bell Acres that the state Department of Environmental Protection has designated a biological diversity area, said Diane Abell, one of the organizers for the clean up.

"It's in our best interest to care about these special spots," Abell said.

"We have so few of them left that it's a crime to see these beautiful creeks littered."

Crews will work on April 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Turkeyfoot and Sevin roads area removing whatever litter is found. Last year, Abell said the group found more than 200 tires.

"This is a little piece of our natural heritage," Abell said. "Our area is of extreme importance."

Nearly 40 volunteers -- mostly children -- will be involved in Leetsdale's litter pick-up on April 20 at Henle Park.

While children clean up the park and side streets in Leetsdale, Mayor Pete Poninsky said adults will handle Route 65.

"It's a busy stretch with a lot of litter," he said. "It's our worst part of the borough for litter."

A majority of the town's litter problems come from passing cars and businesses, Poninsky said. He recently cited a Quaker Village Shopping Center business for littering.

In the four years Leetsdale has held clean-up events, Poninsky said the usual items are found -- appliances, tires, small metal scraps and drink bottles.

One item, though, Poninsky won't soon forget.

"Two years ago, we found a loaded pistol," he said. "You're liable to find anything along (Route) 65."

Mary Wilson knows about finding random items at litter pick-ups. As the executive director of PA CleanWays, she's seen it all.

"Nothing we find is surprising anymore," she said. "You get everything.

"We pulled a wheelchair out of the river once."

Some of the items can be funny, too.

"It's always entertaining to find children's toys that have been thrown out of cars," Wilson said.

"But I'm not sure the children were always happy to have lost that toy."

The redd-up events got their name from the regional dialect commonly known as Pittsburghese.

Bob O'Connor, Pittsburgh's late mayor, coined the term as a way to help city neighborhoods fight litter, Wilson said.

"Being a well-known phrase around here, the name stuck," Wilson said.

Without community support, the redd-up campaigns wouldn't be possible, Wilson said.

"Community groups help keep our neighborhoods litter-free," she said.

"First and foremost, the volunteers take a sense of ownership in their community. That translates to being vigilant and being part of a community network."

And for Leetsdale's Poninsky, tackling litter is a major issue.

"I have a pet peeve about littering," he said.

"If you want to live in the community, then keep it clean."

Redd-Up Events

• April 18, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Bell Acres at Turkey-foot and Sevin roads

Coordinator: Diane Abell, 412-741-1629

• April 19, from 10 a.m. to noon, in Aleppo Township at Sewickley Heights Manor Homes Association office at 101 Greenwood

Coordinator: Susan Moran, 412-741-8563

• April 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Leetsdale at Henle Park, Ferry and Beaver streets

Coordinator: Pete Poninsky, 724-624-4521

For information, log onto www.AlleghenyCleanways.org or www.PACleanWays.org.