Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Wednesday announced there was a 50 percent reduction in cigarette litter at the facilities of the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority in Erie County as a result of implementing a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful partnered with Keep America Beautiful to award a $5,000 grant to the Port of Erie to install 37 ash receptacles at seven prominent locations including Liberty Park, a venue that attracts crowds throughout the summer months for free concerts and Dobbins Landing, a popular tourist area located along Presque Isle Bay.

An initial scan of cigarette litter was conducted before installing cigarette litter trash receptacles.  A follow up scan of the program areas was conducted after the receptacles were in place for two months. The results reported a 50 percent overall reduction in cigarette butts. 

“We are grateful for the opportunity to bring these valuable anti-litter resources to Pennsylvania. With support from Keep America Beautiful, we demonstrated that with the appropriate tools and resources, we really can change people’s behavior when it comes to cigarette litter,” explained Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.  “Through public education and access to receptacles, we are lessening the effect that cigarette litter has on our lands and waterways.”

The "Guide to Cigarette Litter Prevention" provides information about starting and maintaining a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program in your community and can be found online.

For more information on other programs and initiatives, visit the Keep PA Beautiful website.  Click Here to sign up for a copy of KPB’s Beautiful newsletter.

NewsClips:

DEP Tells Keystone Landfill Which Benefits It Will Consider

Friends Of Lackawanna Appeals Keystone Landfill Zoning

Keystone Landfill Leachate Not Likely Source Of Stench

Landfill Spent $95K On Lower Saucon Twp. Council Election

Environmental Group Appeals FirstEnergy Coal Ash Permit

11/2/2015