SINGAPORE - This Sunday, join thousands of people across Singapore to help clean up the island.

The Public Hygiene Council (PHC) is organising its first nationwide litter-picking event - called Operation We Clean Up! - after a similar event in Bedok last year.

More than 8,000 people have already signed up for this year's event, including volunteers from government agencies, town councils, schools, firms and the general public.

Town councils will give estate cleaners for almost 70 precincts a rest on Saturday and cease general cleaning of areas like void decks on that day.

This will allow the volunteers on Sunday to see how much rubbish can accumulate in a single day.

PHC chairman Liak Teng Lit said people can join organised groups at more than 130 locations where they will be provided with equipment like gloves and wet wipes.

Otherwise, he urged the public to do their part by picking up at least three pieces of litter on Sunday.

He added: "If you look at some of the things that have been happening in Singapore, like rat infestations, choked, smelly drains, cockroaches and mosquito breeding that leads to dengue, littering plays a key part in all this. We are trying to get many more Singaporeans to help keep the country clean."