Registration is open for the 2019 Pick Up Pennsylvania, a fall cleanup program supporting the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful invites individuals, families, friends, civic organizations and businesses to coordinate a cleanup or join an existing cleanup to remove litter from our neighborhoods and local waterways to prevent it from reaching our oceans.

A significant portion of waterway pollution originates on land. When it rains, 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, from September 1 through October 31.

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. 

“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,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “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 “Please lend a hand and join us in a cleanup this fall.”

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.

To register an event, visit the KPB Pick Up Pennsylvania webpage.  Gloves and bags are available for registered events while supplies last.  Click Here to find cleanup tools and resources to help organize a safe and successful cleanup. 

Questions should be directed to 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 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:

Free Electronics Waste Collection Set For Sept. 7 In Rostraver, Westmoreland County

Bagenstose: The Rules Of Recycling Have Changed In Bucks County

Editorial: Effort To Recycle Glass In Erie Welcome

South Whitehall Twp Committee Ponders Getting Rid Of Plastic Bags, Straws

Click Here for Last Week’s Environment & Energy NewsClips

Related Article:

CleanScapes Seeking Volunteers For Sept. 7 Bald Eagle Creek Cleanup Day In Clinton County

Westmoreland Green Gathering Sept. 22: Changes In Curbside Recycling In Westmoreland County

[Posted: September 5, 2019]

9/9/2019