Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Wednesday announced groups can now register their local cleanup events as part of the 2018 Great American Cleanup of PA to get free trash bags and in some cases free trash disposal from participating waste facilities.  The event runs from March 1 to May 31.

During the 2017 Great American Cleanup, the value of costs avoided or money saved by municipal, county and state governments was $13 million due to generous donations of supplies, services and manpower.  The event engaged 132,695 invaluable volunteers who picked up over 5 million pounds of trash in 7,280 events across the state.

Events can be litter cleanups, illegal dump cleanups, beautification projects, special collections, and education events and must be registered to receive free cleanup supplies that include free trash bags, gloves, and safety vests from PennDOT district offices, while supplies last.

As part of this event, the Department of Environmental Protection and PA Waste Industries Association are sponsoring Let’s Pick It Up PA – Everyday from April 7th through April 30th.

During this time, trash collected at registered events can be taken to participating landfills free or for a reduced cost with prior approval.

Groups, individuals and local governments anticipate the annual initiative as a way to rally volunteers, reduce cleanup costs and be connected to a larger movement.

Residents of Monroeville in Allegheny County have been participating in the Jack Sedlak Memorial Cleanup Day, as part of the Great American Cleanup of PA, for more than 20 years.

The event was initially organized in remembrance of Councilman Jack Sedlak, who initiated community cleanup days before his death in the mid 1990s. His son Joe, who works for the municipality, has assumed the coordination responsibility.

“The Annual Municipality of Monroeville Jack Sedlak Memorial Clean Up Day would not have become one of the largest clean up events in western Pennsylvania without the support and structure of the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and the Great American Cleanup of PA program,” said Joe Sedlak, Director of Human Resources, Municipality of Monroeville.

“We are so grateful to our volunteers and sponsors who help make the Great American Cleanup of PA, Pennsylvania’s premier community improvement initiative possible,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep PA Beautiful. “Many communities depend on volunteers to clean up litter. This initiative provides the tools and resources our residents need to keep our communities clean and beautiful. This year we hope to inspire even more Pennsylvania’s to come out between March and May to participate in the Great American Cleanup of PA.”

This annual event is a program of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and is held in conjunction with Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup.

The initiative is led by a coalition of nonprofit, state agency and business partners such as the Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT, the PA Food Merchants Association, PA Waste Industries Association, ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer, Wawa, Inc., Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Giant Food Stores, LLC, BioHiTech, Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority, Mahantango, Republic Services, Steel Recycling Institute, Wegmans Food Markets and Weis Markets, Inc.

To register or for more information, visit the 2018 Great American Cleanup of PA webpage. Questions should be directed to Michelle Dunn, Great American Cleanup of PA Program Coordinator, at 1-877-772-3673 ext. 113 or send email to: mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org. 

More Anti-Littering Resources

Click Here for more information on keeping Pennsylvania litter-free from PennDOT, including the Adopt A Highway Program and Click Here for other Adoption Programs from Keep PA Beautiful.  Click Here to find out more about KPB’s Litter Free School Zone Program.

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.

Sign up now for the 2018 Great American Cleanup of PA and set up your own cleanup and beautification event from March 1 to May 31.

(Photo: Monroeville Jack Sedlak Memorial Clean Up Day in Allegheny County.)

Related Stories:

Registration Now Open For 2018 Great American Cleanup Of PA, Over 132,000 Volunteers Participated Last Year

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

DCNR Ranger Edward Ottinger Wins National Award From Keep America Beautiful

DEP, PennDOT Earn National Recognition For Great American Cleanup Of PA

[Posted: Feb. 7, 2018]

2/12/2018