As 2018 comes to a close, the PA Resources Council would like to thank all of its supporters, patrons and partners for contributing to their work of protecting Pennsylvania's natural resources.

From collection events to classrooms PRC continued to connect people to their environment with practical tools and knowledge.The lasting impacts of PRC's diverse programs is made possible through the generosity of donors and volunteers.

Here are just a few of the accomplishments during 2018--

-- Hard To Recycle Collection Events: 348,842 pounds of electronics, 1,394 tires – enough to outfit 77 eighteen-wheeler trucks, 2,100 CFL bulbs and 2,363 Fluorescent tubes, 5,544 Cubic feet of expanded polystyrene, 355 Freon contain appliances and 525 small appliances;

-- Household Chemical Collection Events: 355,574 pounds of material collected from 4,010 families;

-- Watershed/Stormwater Management: Completed 107 property audits under PRC’s Stream Smart House Call Program; built new demonstration rain gardens at Academy Park High School, Darby Township School, and Morton Borough Hall, and assisted the Hav-a-Raingarden program in Haverford Township, Delaware County with 10 residential rain garden installations. 

Students assisted with the digging and planting of the school rain gardens, learning about watershed stewardship and potential career paths in Green Stormwater Infrastructure.

PRC continues its partnership in the William Penn Foundation’s Delaware River Watershed Initiative.  Phase II of the program was launched in 2018, with PRC’s work focused on the Naylors Run portion of the Cobbs Creek Watershed west of Philadelphia.  PRC is a key partner in Green Stormwater Infrastructure initiatives and intensive water quality monitoring in this area.

-- Conservation Workshops: Over the course of 19 Backyard Composting Workshops 404 participants learned about backyard composting and 285 bins were distributed. During these workshops participants learned how to expand their recycling efforts to include kitchen scraps and yard debris, while generating natural, home-made compost for their lawn and gardens.

Through eleven Rain Barrel Workshops across the state 325 participants learned how to collect and use rainwater. Additionally, 270 barrels were distributed. These workshops teach residents how to reduce their contribution to combined sewer overflow, flooding, and polluted urban runoff by learning how to practice watershed protection and conservation in their own backyards!

-- Zero Waste PA: This year alone, PRC’s Zero Waste Pennsylvania program has diverted over 38 tons of recycling and organic material from landfills through its zero waste event program. The service was provided for over 50 event days throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania with an average diversion rate of 79 percent.

-- In School Education: PRC’s school education programs bring environment and ecology to life both in the classroom and on field trips.  In 2018 we enhanced the educational experience of 3389 students during 260 programming days  across PRC’s Eastern, Central, and Western PA service areas.

-- Litter Prevention: The Litter? Not in Philly! online block adoption program recruited over 1,300 volunteers to help clean up litter in their neighborhood each week.  The program is currently being expanded to new neighborhoods, including Southwest Philadelphia.

The 34th Annual Gene Capaldi Lens on Litter Photo Contest attracted many great entries depicting the problems of litter and illegal dumping in Pennsylvania.  The contest was renamed for longtime a dedicated PRC volunteer who ran the contest for many years and who passed away in 2017.

-- Annual Events: PRC and many partners also host a series of annual events--

   -- Reuse Fest promoting the reuse of household and many other items

   -- Wild & Scenic Film Festival

   -- PRC Annual Awards Celebration honored Wawa, Philadelphia Media Network LLC, Falk School of Sustainability at Chatham University, and Eldredge, Inc.

Click Here for a complete list of 2018 accomplishments.

For more information on programs, initiatives, special events and how you can get involved, visit the PA Resources Council website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates, follow PRC on Twitter or Like them on Facebook.  Click Here for PRC’s Events Calendar.  Click Here to support their work.

NewsClips:

Editorial: Pittsburgh Has A Game Plan For Electronic Waste

Editorial: Seek Local Recycling Solutions

Editorial: Recycle Or Reuse All That Cardboard

[Posted: Dec. 31, 2018]

1/7/2019