There is still time to register an event or to volunteer for a Keep PA Beautiful Pick Up Pennsylvania fall cleanup event!

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful invites individuals, families, friends, civic organizations and businesses to coordinate a cleanup or join an existing cleanup to remove litter from our neighborhoods and local waterways to prevent it from reaching our oceans to support the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup Initiative.

A significant portion of waterway pollution originates on land. When it rains, trash on sidewalks and streets accumulates and is swept into storm drains. Most storm drain systems discharge directly into the nearest creek or river, eventually flowing to the ocean taking all the trash with it.

To prevent litter from ending up in our waterways, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful coordinates Pick Up Pennsylvania which runs through October 31.

CleanScapes Clinton/Lycoming Counties

In a recent cleanup, CleanScapes, a Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful affiliate serving Clinton and Lycoming counties, worked with Sunken Treasure Scuba Center and loyal community volunteers to remove 27 tires and 955 pounds of trash from the West Branch Susquehanna River.

After the event CleanScapes Project Director Elisabeth Lynch McCoy said, “We’ve partnered with Sunken Treasure since 2004 and we couldn’t complete these projects without the scuba diving team and boaters.  So far we’ve completed 51 river cleanups and removed over 6,500 tires and 87 tons of trash.  Our goal is to have the cleanest waterways in Pennsylvania and we’re almost there!”

As the largest volunteer effort aimed at improving the health of our oceans, the International Coastal Cleanup, engages hundreds of thousands of volunteers from around the world to remove millions of pounds of plastics and debris from inland areas and waterways. 

“Whether you are cleaning up a local waterway, your local park or the street that you live on – it all makes a difference in the amount of litter reaching our oceans. We are proud to provide the resources and supplies needed to help volunteers improve our communities,” explained Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “Please lend a hand and join us in a cleanup this fall.”

Last year, 577 events were held across Pennsylvania - 13,297 volunteers removed 523,855 pounds of trash and tires from Pennsylvania’s waterways, coastal regions, parks, sidewalks, streets and neighborhoods, preventing litter and debris from making its way downstream.

To register, visit KPB’s Pick Up Pennsylvania webpage. Gloves and bags are available for registered events while supplies last.   Click Here for more cleanup tools and resources to help organize a safe and successful cleanup.

Questions should be directed to Michelle Dunn, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Cleanup Coordinator, at 1-877-772-3673 Ext. 113 or send email to: mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org. 

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to become a member.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Discover them on Pinterest and visit their YouTube Channel.

Also visit the Illegal Dump Free PA website for more ideas on how to clean up communities and keep them clean and KPB’s Electronics Waste website.

NewsClips:

Volunteers Took Part In Annual Lake Erie International Coastal Cleanup Sept. 21

Beautification Program A Big Success In Wilkes-Barre

Help Needed With Annual Crick Falls Cleanup Effort In Westmoreland

Op-Ed: A Simple Solution To Combat Illegal Dumping

Pottstown First In The Nation To Pilot Flexible Plastic Recycling

Click Here For Links To Last Week’s Environment & Energy NewsClips

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[Posted: September 25, 2019]

9/30/2019