On June 15, more than 500 volunteers participated in the 30th annual River Sweep from 8 a.m. to noon in Allegheny, Armstrong, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland  counties. Volunteers at 11 cleanup sites, picked up more than 40 tons of trash and more than 260 tires. 

“We are making an impact on our area waterways by picking up trash, debris and tires,” Pennsylvania River Sweep Coordinator Betsy Mallison said.  “Our volunteers help keep our waterways clean for recreation and the protection of our water supplies.”

Strange items picked up include a reclining love-seat, mattress, tube tvs, flat screen tvs, 2 water heaters, shop-vac, dishwasher, children's playsets and a bowling pin.

"This is our banner year, number 30. Over the last 30 years we have picked up more than 1,000 tons of trash from our local waterways. We have made a significant impact on the health of our rivers which help to protect our drinking water resources. "Mallison said.

The River Sweep is an annual six-state effort to clean up litter and debris in the Ohio River watershed and the largest organized volunteer river cleanup effort in the country. The event winds through Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia and Illinois, covering more than 2,400 miles of shoreline. 

Many of the event’s cleanup sites in the Ohio River Watershed were postponed Saturday because of high water.

In Pennsylvania, it is sponsored by the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission and a number of Pennsylvania corporate sponsors including Duquesne Light, EQT, Koppers, Neville Chemical Company, and Eaton Corporation. 

Many of the companies sponsored cleanup crews were as part of the event. Giant Eagle donated water for volunteers.

Volunteers received trash bags, gloves and a souvenir T-shirt.

For more information on the cleanup program, visit the River Sweep Cleanup webpage on the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation  Commission website.

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[Posted: June 15, 2019]

6/17/2019