PA Environment Digest

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Columbia Gas Of PA Latest Sponsor Of KPB's Great American Cleanup Of PA, Local Events

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Tuesday announced Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania has pledged support for the 2018 Great American Cleanup of PA, a statewide community improvement initiative that runs now through May 31.

Events registered with the initiative receive free cleanup supplies of gloves, bags and vests, as supplies last and access to free or reduced disposal during Pick It Up PA Days, through April 30.

As part of their support, Columbia Gas employees participated in five service days with local Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful affiliates. Columbia Gas employees joined local volunteers for the following community improvement projects--

-- On April 19, 7 Columbia Gas employees joined local volunteers to clean up approximately 10,000 pounds of trash and over 200 tires in a roadside cleanup and beautification of ‘Natalie’s Garden’ located in the Beltzhoover neighborhood, Allegheny County. The event was coordinated by Allegheny CleanWays.

-- Nine Columbia Gas employees, members of PA CleanWays of Fayette County and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources staff tackled a site at Wharton Furnace 2 in Forbes State Forest, Fayette County on April 18. The site, located along a stream, required a winch to haul 50 tires, 800 pounds of trash, 12 appliances and other miscellaneous items over the embankment.

-- On April 18, Columbia Gas employees joined local residents and members of Tri-County CleanWays to remove approximately 2,000 pounds of trash and 22 tires from along the Stavich Bike Trail, part of the Lawrence County greenways plan. The cleanup crew also did a litter sweep of the surrounding area.

-- Columbia Gas employees joined members of PA CleanWays of McKean County, Foster Township and McKean County Adult Probation to clean up 1,500 pounds of trash and 70 tires from along Pratt Hollow in Foster Township, McKean County on April 20.

-- A Community Garden on East King Street in York was the location of the service project on April 19. Columbia Gas employees and Keep York County Beautiful volunteers constructed twelve new raised garden beds, filling them with soil. The beds will be used for planting flowers and other vegetation to assist in the beautification of the local community.

“Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania is committed to environmental stewardship,” said Sarah Perry, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania Community Engagement Manager. “We are humbled to support community organizations like Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful that help to protect and conserve the environment.”

“We are grateful for the support of Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania. Our volunteers and sponsors are who help make the Great American Cleanup of PA, Pennsylvania’s premier community improvement initiative, possible. Keep PA Beautiful and Columbia Gas both believe in responsible use and protection of the natural environment. We are honored to partner with them on these community improvement projects,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

To become a sponsor of the annual Great American Cleanup of PA initiative, contact Shannon Reiter by sending email to: sreiter@keeppabeautiful.org or call 724-836-4121.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is the state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. Your contribution will directly support the Great American Cleanup of PA efforts.

Accomplishments

Since the inception of the Great American Cleanup of PA in 2004, over 2.1 million volunteers have picked up 97 million pounds of litter and waste, 170,619 miles of roads, waterways, shorelines, and trails have been cleaned, and more than 181,000 trees, bulbs, and flowers have been planted.

Volunteers also removed over 279,681 tires and 226,395 pounds of scrap metal.

Video Contest

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is also calling for videos highlighting your 2018 Great American Cleanup of PA event featuring groups, children, and adults having fun keeping your communities clean and beautiful.

Cash prizes, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association, are $200 for the winning entry and $100 each for two runners up.

Recognize sponsors and incorporate Great American Cleanup of PA in your video. Send a 60 second video to slarson@keeppabeautiful.org.

The statewide cleanup event continues through May 31. To register, please visit the Great American Cleanup of PA website or contact Michelle Dunn, Great American Cleanup of PA Program Coordinator, at 1-877-772-3673 ext. 113 or send email to: mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.

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.

NewsClips:

Pennsylvania Cleanup Events Touch Urban, Rural Areas

Phoenixville Uses Student Art To Fight Littering, Protect Waterways

Ligonier Twp To Accept Appliances, Tires Saturday

Volunteers Hit Streets, Parks In Wilkes-Barre For Great American Cleanup

Groups Combine To Cleanup Exeter For Earth Day

Volunteers Mark Earth Day By Cleaning Harrison Hills Park

Cleanup Of Ice Jam Debris Underway At River Common Fishing Pier In Wilkes-Barre

Op-Ed: Litterers Bug All Of Us

Editorial: Litter, Litter Everywhere And Some Folks Just Don’t Care