They meet together in empty parking lots, communicate in short commands, and carry black trash bags to hide the evidence of their deeds.

They are the Wareham Area Litter Mob, and they are picking up the trash of Wareham.

The Litter Mob met most recently on Sunday, April 22, in front of the Oak Grove School in Onset to wage war on the trash littered along Onset Avenue.

The mob-members, braving the drizzly Sunday morning weather, quickly organized which sections of the road they were going to "attack" before they split off to wage their wars individually.

The Mob usually works that way, explained active volunteer Mike Russell, with the members holding a brief meeting at around 10 a.m. before leaving individually or in pairs with their own trash bags and equipment.

About 15 people met Sunday, but the group has had as many as 30 people.

"We're trying to make this town look better," Russell said.

Sunday was also Earth Day, an extra incentive for the volunteers.

Liz and Dave Wiley, who have attended a few Litter Mob clean-ups, came with sons Luke, who is 8 years old, and Nathan, who is 7.

"We wanted to celebrate Earth Day and get out here before it started raining, and do something for the Earth," said Liz Wiley, adding that she brought her kids because "it's important to teach these guys at a young age that this is a part of being citizens."

Volunteers picked up empty cups, wrappers, plastic bags, Styrofoam plates, crumpled and wet newspaper, and even part of a car mat as they walked along Onset Avenue.

"When you drive you don't see it," Russell said of the trash, "but if you run or walk or bike, you really notice it."

Russell said that he most often finds empty cigarette packages, Dunkin Donuts coffee cups, and "nips" -- small bottles of alcohol.

One area in particular near Onset Avenue and Old Onset Road was full of trash, but was also full of tangled branches which wrapped like vines around the litter.

"You can spend two weeks in here," said Russell. "It's like the Bronx," he added, referring to the New York City borough.

Wooded areas such as that are commonly full of litter, Russell said.

Nevertheless, members of the Litter Mob dived in to try to remove some of the debris.

Volunteer Mary Bruce discovered a wallet with identification, but no money, during her foray.

The police were called and cruisers patrolling in the area responded to pick up the items.

The Litter Mob usually picks up 20 to 25 bags of trash during the clean-up days, said Russell. Volunteers have collected more than 100 bags in total. Town employees have also helped the effort. The Harbormaster and Municipal Maintenance departments have gathered and disposed of the trash bags after some of the "mobs."

The group, whose introductory foray was the area around the Wareham Free Library in last December, has picked up trash along Minot Avenue, Red Brook Road, Main Street, and Merchants Way in downtown Wareham.

Volunteers say they would like to clean up Cranberry Highway, but acknowledge that it is dangerous with the heavy car traffic.

The Wareham Area Litter Mob usually meets every other weekend on either Saturday or Sunday at 10 a.m. The group usually meets in a parking lot near its planned target area and spends about an hour cleaning up, Russell said.

Volunteer Sandy Slavin said she has noticed that certain sections of roads that the Litter Mob has not visited seem to be getting cleaner, leading her to think that individuals may be taking the initiative to pick up litter on their own.

"Some people are recognizing that litter pick up makes a difference in how the town looks and how people feel about their town," she said.

Volunteers can learn more about and sign up for the Wareham Area Litter Mob by visiting the group's blog at http://warehamarealittermob.wordpress.com or by sending an e-mail to warehamarealittermob@yahoo.com.

The following are details of future clean-ups. All clean-ups meet at 10 a.m.

Saturday, May 12, Charlotte Furnace Road, meet at Cumberland Farms at the intersection of Route 28 and Charlotte Furnace Road.

Sunday, May 20, Glen Charlie Road, meet at Wheelock Landing.

Saturday, June 9, Carver Road, meet at the town tennis courts near Route 28.

Saturday, June 23, Fearing Hill Road, meeting located to be determined.