Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Thursday announced it has received a $20,000 grant from Keep America Beautiful to continue their work with the Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program. 

Other Pennsylvania organizations received Cigarette Litter Prevention Program (CLPP) grants including: the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District which received $2,500 to explore cigarette butt and cigar tip litter within the business district and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership received $5,000 to expand their current rate of cigarette litter recycling in downtown Pittsburgh. 

Keep PA Beautiful will partner with the Fish and Boat Commission and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on cigarette litter prevention in seven State Parks with recreational lakes, including: Bald Eagle (Centre County), Kooser (Somerset County), Moraine (Butler County), Neshaminy (Bucks County), Prince Gallitzin (Cambria County) and Pymatuning (Crawford County).

These parks together have over 6 million annual combined visitors/users.

Additionally, KPB will conduct education and outreach to the 65 charter fishing boat companies which are licensed by the Fish & Boat Commission and the marinas from which they sail.

“Moraine State Park appreciates the opportunity to partner with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful for the 2016 Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Grant.   As a conservation agency that supports more than a million visitors for various recreational activities each year, our park staff and volunteers are always challenged to keep the park free of litter and cigarette butts can be one of the most challenging aspects of litter removal.  This partnership will provide the park with additional tools and resources to collect the butts before they become litter and help to keep Moraine State Park beautiful,” said Dustin Drew, Park Manager, Moraine State Park.

Tobacco products, consisting mainly of cigarette butts, are the most littered item in America, representing nearly 38 percent of all items littered, according to "Litter in America," KAB’s landmark study of litter and littering behavior.

Over the past 10 years, the CLPP has consistently cut cigarette butt litter by approximately half based on local measurements taken in the first four months to six months after program implementation. 

Survey results also demonstrated that as communities continue to monitor the program those reductions are sustained or even increased over time. 

“The Cigarette Litter Prevention Program is a proven tool to address the number one littered item in America. Thanks to Keep America Beautiful, we can continue to invest in this highly effective program,” explained Shannon Reiter, President of Keep PA Beautiful.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Discover them on Pinterest and visit their YouTube Channel. 

Also visit the Illegal Dump Free PA website for more ideas on how to clean up communities and keep them clean and KPB’s new Electronics Waste website.

Sign up now for the 2016 Great American Cleanup of PA and set up your own cleanup and beautification event through May 31.

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