Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Thursday reported nearly 14,000 volunteers from 35 counties removed 861,655 pounds of trash and tires from waterways and coastal regions during the 2017 International Coastal Cleanup of PA preventing litter and debris from making its way downstream.

The top five types of trash, documented by volunteers, included: Cigarette Butts – 28,209; Food Wrappers – 9,206; Plastic Bottles – 8,047; Bottle Caps – 5,817; and Tires – 2,507.

The International Coastal Cleanup is the world’s largest volunteer effort to improve the health of the world’s oceans and waterways. The cleanup gives citizens around the world the opportunity to clean up their local waterways and to be a part of a larger movement. 

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful coordinates the effort in Pennsylvania. 

The French Creek Valley Conservancy based in Crawford County participates annually in the International Coastal Cleanup. What started as a small group of volunteers has grown into a major community event with hundreds of volunteers cleaning miles of French Creek, its tributaries, inland lakes and waterways and conserved lands.

 “Thanks for supporting our cleanup with bags and gloves. It makes a huge difference. We are grateful for the work that Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful does!” said Peggy Mogush, French Creek Valley Conservancy. This year, 762 volunteers collected 32,844 pounds of trash during this year’s community cleanup event. 

“We are honored to partner with the Ocean Conservancy to provide support for our local individuals and groups, such as French Creek Valley Conservancy, to coordinate cleanups that help improve the health of our waterways,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “We are grateful to all the volunteers who give up their personal time to get wet and dirty to help keep our waterways clean.” 

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

More information about the program is available by visiting the International Coastal Cleanup of PA webpage.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to become a member.  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 Electronics Waste website.

(Photo: French Creek Valley Conservancy volunteers.)

Related Story:

Keep PA Beautiful: Nearly 133,000 Volunteers Participated in 2017 Great American Cleanup Of PA

[Posted: Dec. 21, 2017]

12/25/2017