Volunteers are needed to join the estimated 1,500 people who will participate in the two-month Schuylkill Scrub by picking up litter during nearly 100 cleanup events near the Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania’s River of Year, in April and May.

In addition, anyone hosting a cleanup before May 31 can register their event online.  Those who do will be eligible to win a money-saving rain barrel. 

Events registered with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup of PA will also have access to free gloves, trash bags, and safety vests at participating events.  And they can benefit from free or reduced disposal fees at participating landfills during Pick It Up PA Days, from April 12 to May 5.

“Many people are aware of the Philly Spring Cleanup on April 5, but what happens if you’re busy during those five hours?” said Tom Davidock, an employee of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary who coordinates the Schuylkill Action Network.  “That’s what’s so great about the Schuylkill Scrub; you’ve got a hundred events from which to choose.”

Eleven members of the Schuylkill Action Network have joined forces to improve on last year’s campaign, which attracted over 1,500 volunteers to almost 100 litter cleanups.  These spanned almost 100 miles across Southeast Pennsylvania, from downtown Philadelphia to Pottsville in Schuylkill County.

Participating in the Schuylkill Scrub contributes to the success of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup of PA.  Last year, this organization tracked over 50,000 people volunteering in each of the five counties bordering the Schuylkill River.  Together they collected more than 900 tons of trash-- enough to fill almost 400 extra-large commercial dumpsters.

The Green Valleys Association and the Hay Creek Watershed Association of greater Pottstown founded the Schuylkill Scrub in 2010.  Since then, dozens of organizations have partnered to promote local cleanups as part of the Schuylkill Scrub.  Perhaps the most active is the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy located in Schwenksville.

Approximately 2,000 square miles of land drain to the Schuylkill River.  This makes it the largest influence on the tidal Delaware River and Bay, otherwise known as the Delaware Estuary.  Cities along its 130-mile path include West Philadelphia, Norristown, Pottstown, Reading, and Pottsville. 

Over 2,400 Pennsylvanians selected the Schuylkill as their River of the Year in January.

For more information, visit the Schuylkill Scrub website.  Volunteers can also call Tom Davidock of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary at 800-445-4935, extension 109 to learn how they can help.

3/31/2014