In keeping with Switzerland's squeaky-clean image, towns throughout the country are being swept up and brushed off in a three-day cleanliness campaign.

Over 50 towns and communities are cleaning up their act for the Clean-Up-Switzerland weekend, which kicked off on Friday and runs until September 23, with schools, organisations and local authorities all staging events for the anti-litter campaign.

Many major Swiss companies and multinationals have pledged their support for the campaign. Some of their plans include having giant litter-bins "wandering" through town centres, and encouraging children to draw on broomsticks.

The weekend's activities culminate the "Trash is Culture" campaign, which was launched in July across German-speaking cantons by the Swiss Organisation for Practical Environmental Protection, or Pusch.

Pusch put up banners, posters and slogans on trash cans, and has even staged street theatre to remind passers-by to keep Switzerland clean. The organisation says it wants its message to be friendly and upbeat, rather than pointing the finger at those who drop litter.

This weekend also coincides with this year's 'Clean Up the World' day, a global campaign that was launched 16 years ago.

swissinfo

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