DEP Announces Award Of Grants To Clean Up Illegal Dump Sites

Communities and nonprofit groups across Pennsylvania will receive financial assistance to help clean up more than 350 illegal dump sites as Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger this week announced nearly $500,000 in Community Cleanup Program Illegal Dump Grants.

 

"Every year, Earth Day reminds us to take a look at the current state of our environment," said Secretary Hanger. "These grants present us with opportunities to correct past actions and improve our surroundings. I encourage all Pennsylvanians to get involved in these and other cleanup efforts that will help make our environment a cleaner and safer place. We can restore our state's natural beauty, and in doing so, rejuvenate pride in our communities."

 

Secretary Hanger said illegal dump sites are a problem across the state. These grants will assist partnerships of communities, organizations, businesses and local governments to clean up neighborhoods and natural areas that have become eyesores and threats to the public's health and safety and the environment.

 

Grants of up to $25,000 were awarded on a competitive basis to help fund 42 organizations with cleanup projects in 31 counties. These cleanup efforts are expected to remove an estimated 2,200 tons of illegally discarded trash from the environment.

 

Secretary Hanger said cleaning up illegal dump sites is just the beginning. He stressed the need for education, surveillance and enforcement to prevent illegal dumping. Last month, PA CleanWays, in conjunction with DEP, conducted illegal dump cleanup workshops at five locations across the state.

"These cleanup programs will help restore the natural beauty of our landscapes," said Secretary Hanger. "Trash that has been illegally dumped will be properly disposed of, and in many cases, materials such as scrap metal and tires will be recycled for future use.

 

"While cleaning up these dump sites is an important step in restoring our state's natural beauty, we can reduce the need for future cleanups if we properly manage our trash and recyclables in the first place."

 

A list of grants awarded is available online.

 

For more information, visit DEP's Illegal Dumping webpage.