The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources this week said nearly 287 tons of trash and other debris were removed during 33 cleanups on state forest and parklands in 2004 as part of Pennsylvania's Forest Lands Beautification Program.

PA CleanWays, DCNR's cleanup partner under the program, organized volunteers to perform most of the cleanups.

In 2004, 343 volunteers spent 1,723 hours - the equivalent of more than 10 solid weekends - removing tires, appliances, household trash and other debris from state forests and parks. Many volunteers also monitor cleaned sites to ensure that dumping does not reoccur, an approach that reduces subsequent dumping. Cleaned sites have had few reoccurrences of dumping.

More than 4,800 tires, 125 tons of scrap, 20 tons of concrete and more than 141 tons of debris were pulled from illegal dumpsites during 2004 cleanups.

Contractors were hired for cleanups at sites where the terrain, quantity or weight of discarded materials required the use of cranes or other heavy equipment. Forestry personnel cleaned several other sites. Scrap metal, appliances, tires and other materials were recycled after each cleanup. The remaining waste was properly disposed.

To date, more than 300 illegal dumpsites have been identified throughout Pennsylvania. Since the program's inception, 248 sites have been cleaned through the efforts of more than 2,400 volunteers. These cleanups have resulted in the removal of more than 2,900 tons of household trash, 27,900 tires, 400 tons of scrap metal and 600 tons of concrete.

Gov. Rendell proposed to eliminate funding for the Forest Lands Beautification Program in his 2005-06 budget request.

To join a cleanup team or for more information, call toll-free 1-877-7PA FOREST (1-877-772-3673) or visit the Forest Lands Beautification Program website.

3/4/2005