On April 1, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful joins with others in encouraging residents to walk outside and enjoy the beauty their communities have to offer.

With that in mind, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is asking residents to take pride in Pennsylvania and not to litter.

“We're heartened by many stories of residents getting outside and reconnecting with their neighborhoods, parks and trails. Unfortunately, there’ve also been stories of people leaving litter, dog waste and even graffiti behind in state parks and forests and other places,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

The increased litter puts an undue strain on the already reduced staff at state and municipal parks and recreation departments across the state.

“If you’re one of the many Pennsylvanians spending time outdoors, please respect the environment and dispose of trash properly. Remember, if you pack it in, you can pack it out. A pandemic is no reason to litter. There’s no acceptable time to litter,” Reiter said.

To help protect Pennsylvanians’ health and safety, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful recently suspended its annual statewide Pick Up Pennsylvania initiative, which supports upwards of 5,000 cleanups each spring from March 1 through May 31. 

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful will support this initiative once the threat of COVID-19 passes and social distancing restrictions are lifted.

Details concerning free cleanup supplies of bags, gloves and safety vests and free or reduced cost landfill space will be communicated as they become available.

For updates, visit the Pick Up Pennsylvania webpage or KPB’s Facebook page.

Last year, 92,342 volunteers participated in the statewide spring cleanup campaign, collecting over 7 million pounds of trash and recyclables and 19,082 tires and planting 8,580 flowers and other plants.

“At Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, we are focused on staying positive. We look forward to continuing our programs and providing the resources needed to continue improving our neighborhoods, trails and parks. Until then, it is up to each individual to take initiative to keep our communities clean,” said Reiter.

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:

Marcus Schneck: Will PA’s State Parks, Forests, Trails Survive Stay At Home Response?

Mary Ann Thomas: Litter Piles Up At PA State Parks

Police Seek Illegal Dumping/Littering Suspect In Lackawanna County

People Flocking To Parks And Trails Just To Get Outside, It’s Tough to Social Distance

As Trail Use Soars, Groups Push Opening Some Philly Streets To Just Walking

Mother Nature Is Just What We Need Right Now - Alliance For Watershed Education

How Nature Has Become America’s Saving Grace As We Shelter In Place

Ad Crable: Lancaster County’s Trails, Parks Swarmed As Residents Seek Relief From Worry

NewsClips - Support Local Journalism:

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Related Article - Budget:

PA Capitol & COVID-19 Report: PA Could See $4 Billion+ Deficit; Revenue Down $294.6M In March

Related Articles:

A Pandemic Isn’t A License To Litter

Don’t Be Careless With Fire: 85% Of PA’s Wildfires Occur In March, April, May

[Posted: April 1, 2020]

4/6/2020