River-loving residents will be out in force Saturday, hoping to return bragging right and an environment-friendly trophy to Washington in this year’s Riverkeeper Cup Cleanup Challenge.

For six years running, volunteers have amassed up and down the banks of the Tar-Pamlico river to pick the river clean — of trash. Last year, more than 200 people participated, picking up 7,320 pounds of garbage from the river in the event hosted by the grassroots environmental organization, Pamlico-Tar River Foundation. Louisburg took home the trophy for the most trash in 2013, but Kelly Jochim, development and outreach coordinator for PTRF, said volunteers in Washington are looking to take it back. Regardless of which town comes out on top the end result is helping eastern North Carolina’s waterways, she said.

“Basically, it’s just giving the river a good, old-fashioned cleaning,” Jochim said. “Ecologically, (the trash) is terrible for the river.”

Over the past few years, there have a few surprise finds among the more common trash: tires, grocery carts, an abandoned boat and a message in a bottle.

“If anything, it’s kind of like a treasure hunt,” Jochim laughed.

The neighborhoods of Cypress Landing and Pamlico Plantation will be hosting cleanups, but anyone outside of those neighborhoods who’d like to pitch in to the effort can meet leaders Rick Zablocki and Matt Butler at the Havens Gardens boat ramps in Washington at 8 a.m. Saturday morning. Participants are encouraged to wear long pants and boots, while PTRF, with help from the City of Washington, will supply bags, gloves and trash pickers.

Those who’d like to get out on the water to search for garbage are welcome to bring their own kayaks or canoes, but PTRF will have a fleet of 10 kayaks, along with personal flotation devices, available for use, Jochim said. Kayakers should plan to arrive by 7:45 a.m.

It may be couched in the terms of a competition, but each volunteer at each community is working toward a common goal — to help protect the river and its wildlife.

“Our dedicated volunteers really make this event successful. We hope that anyone who has some time on April 5 will decide to join us for a few hours and help keep the Tar-Pamlico a clean and healthy river,” said Heather Deck, Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper.

The event will run from 8 .m. to noon. For more information, call PTRF at 252-946-7211 or visit PTRF.org.