ROCHESTER — They had this clean-up in the bag.

Rochester residents carried trash bags, gloves and a determination to make a difference as they participated Saturday, April 23 in the annual town clean-up.

The activity is held annually on the Saturday closest to Earth Day, which fell on Friday, April 22 this year. The event offers the chance for community members to gather for a townwide spring sprucing up.

About 30 to 40 people, some individually, others in family or other groups, participate each year, said Brianne Crook, who is involved with the Rochester Women’s Club and Boy Scout Troop 31, the co-hosts of the activity along with Covanta SEMASS, the waste-to-energy facility located in Rochester.

Participants fill the trash bags with debris collected throughout the town. The bags are then left alongside the road for pick-up during the week by the Rochester Highway Department.

Ethan Empoy, 12, of Rochester, a member of Boy Scout Troop 31, said the clean-up “helps the planet and makes nature more beautiful.’’ 

His fellow troop member Kent Spooner, who is 14 and lives in Marion, explained that people create conditions that are “kind of nasty’’ when they thoughtlessly toss trash.

Cleaning up “just helps the town look better,’’ troop member Eddie Brown, 13, of Wareham reported.

At the baseball field on Dexter Lane, Ariana Reilly, 10, of Rochester gamely wandered into bushes to remove buckets and other debris.

“It’s kind of sad,’’ she said, holding the garbage she plucked. “There’s so much trash all over the sides of the road and in the woods.’’

Her friend Saige St. Gelais agreed and offered some advice for people who trash up the town. “Clean it up.’’

“Noticing how much trash there was, we wanted to make a positive impact,’’ Ariana’s mother Jessica Reilly explained. “That’s why we’re here.’’

That sense of community inspired many of the participants.

“We just wanted to help out and clean up the community we live in,’’ said Stacey Riquinha, who brought along sons Gavin, 6, and Noah, 3.