This year 12,809 volunteers from 50 counties across Pennsylvania canvassed their communities to remove 646,210 pounds of trash and debris from Pennsylvania’s waterways and coastal regions during the 2014 International Coastal Cleanup event, according to Keep PA Beautiful.

“Our numbers have been steadily increasing each year. This year we had an increase of 31 percent in volunteer participation, 43 percent in participating counties and the pounds of trash collected rose by 41 percent. This sends a strong message that Pennsylvania’s are committed to making their communities clean and beautiful,” Stated Shannon Reiter, President of Keep PA Beautiful. “Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful thanks all the dedicated volunteers who participated in the International Coastal Cleanup of Pennsylvania.”

Keep PA Beautiful is proud to be the Pennsylvania statewide coordinator for the International Coastal Cleanup, the world’s largest volunteer effort to improve the health of the world’s oceans and local waterways.  

The International Coastal Cleanup is one of the largest international volunteer events. The cleanup gives citizens around the world the opportunity to clean up their local waterways and to be a part of a larger movement. 

From September through October, Keep PA Beautiful worked together with local groups and organizations to coordinate 440 events throughout the state.

Volunteers in Pennsylvania documented the trash that was picked up and among the most abundant types of trash found during the 2014 cleanup included: 27,489 Cigarette Butts; 13,129 Plastic Beverage Bottles; 3,635 Tires; and 2,438 Plastic Grocery Bags.

Allegheny County had the most volunteers participate, 4,548 and collected the most trash at 288,590 pounds.

Funding for the International Coastal Cleanup coordination in Pennsylvania is provided by the Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Waste Management and the Coastal Resources Program.

For more information on the International Coastal Cleanup, go to the Ocean Conservancy website or the Keep PA Beautiful International Coastal Cleanup webpage.

12/15/2014