Keep PA Beautiful is now accepting registrations for volunteer cleanups for Pick Up Pennsylvania, part of the International Coastal Cleanup running from September 1 to October 31.

A significant portion of waterway pollution originates on land. When it rains, plastics, trash on sidewalks and streets accumulates and is swept into storm drains.

Most storm drain systems discharge directly into the nearest creek or river, eventually flowing to the ocean taking all the trash with it.

To prevent litter from ending up in our waterways, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful coordinates Pick Up Pennsylvania, in support of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup.

“Cleaning up your local park or street that you live on might seem unrelated to healthy waterways, especially when there isn’t any water in sight, but I think we have all seen litter blocking storm drains. Cleaning up that litter before it has a chance to be washed into the creek will significantly reduce the amount of trash that reaches our local waterways and eventually, our oceans,” explained Shannon Reiter, President of Keep PA Beautiful. “Please lend a hand and join us in a cleanup this fall.”

As the largest volunteer effort aimed at improving the health of our oceans, the International Coastal Cleanup, engages hundreds of thousands of volunteers from around the world to remove millions of pounds of plastics and debris from inland areas and waterways. 

Last year, 577 events were held across Pennsylvania - 13,297 volunteers removed 523,855 pounds of trash and tires from Pennsylvania’s waterways, coastal regions, parks, sidewalks, streets and neighborhoods, preventing litter and debris from making its way downstream.

Gloves and bags are available for registered events while supplies last.

To register your cleanup or for more information on Pick Up Pennsylvania, please contact Michelle Dunn, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Cleanup Coordinator, at 1-877-772-3673 Ext. 113 or send email to: mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.

For more information, visit KPB’s Pick Up Pennsylvania - International Coastal Cleanup webpage. Click Here for cleanup tools and resources to help organize a safe and successful cleanup. 

Want to volunteer to be part of a cleanup?  Click Here for a calendar of cleanup events near you.

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.

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