What began as a community campaign to improve the condition of Lake Macquarie 15 years ago has resulted in the city becoming one of the most environmentally active local government areas in Australia.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Greg Piper expects the city's residents to rise to the challenge during Earth Hour on March 28.

"Lake Macquarie residents have been very good at doing the practical things when it comes to the environment and Earth Hour is a very important symbolic element of that," Cr Piper, an Earth Hour ambassador, said.

"Earth Hour is about turning off your lights but it's also about treating the Earth in a more gentle way in a whole range of ways, it's not just about turning off your lights."

Along with Cessnock and Maitland, Lake Macquarie was among the first local government areas to introduce fortnightly recycling collections.

Cr Piper said many residents had extended their involvement in the Landcare movement to other areas of their lives.