In celebration of Earth Day, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, whose vision is a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania, encourages residents to join the 2022 Pick Up Pennsylvania initiative.

Pick Up Pennsylvania engages tens of thousands of volunteers annually through litter cleanups, illegal dump cleanups, beautification projects, special collections, and educational events.

Events registered through May 31 receive free trash bags, gloves, and safety vests from PennDOT district offices, as supplies last.

To help with the cost of trash disposal, the Department of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association are sponsoring free or reduced cost disposal through April 30.

During this time, trash collected at registered events can be taken to participating landfills, with prior approval.

Pick Up Pennsylvania Earth Day Events

Highlighted here are just a few of the many Pick Up Pennsylvania events scheduled in and around Earth Day, April 22, 2022.

If you would like to join an event below or one listed on the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Calendar of Events, please contact the coordinator to confirm participation--

-- Presque Isle Spring Clean-up, Erie County - Sat, Apr 23 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM, contact Stacey Marendt at smarendt@pa.gov or 814-217-9638. Meet at Rotary Pavilion between 7 am and 10 am for location assignments. Bags and gloves will be provided.

-- ClearWater Conservancy's Watershed Cleanup Day 2022, Centre County - Sat, Apr 23 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, contact Rhonda Rumbaugh at rhonda1@clearwaterconservancy.org or 814-237-0400. This annual event has prevented more than 6 million pounds of litter and waste from entering waterways by removing it from areas close to streams and disposing of it responsibly. Hundreds of community members join this effort each year.

-- Connellsville Citywide Cleanup, Fayette County - Sat, Apr 23 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

contact Connellsville Recreation Board, Vernon Ohler at connellsvillecityclerk@gmail.com or 724-628-7750. This 8th annual event involves civic groups, school groups and the general public.

-- Picking Up Paint Creek, Cambria County - Sat, Apr 23 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM,

contact Mountain Laurel Trout Unlimited & Paint Creek Regional Watershed Association, Melissa Reckner at mreckner@brandywine.org or 814-242-4285.  Meet near the gated pull off along Berwick Road to sign in and get supplies.

-- Drive Thru Electronics Recycling Event, Montgomery County – Sat, April 23 9 AM - 11 AM, contact Gillian Ladley at gladley@pahouse.net  or 267-768-3671. Hosted by  PA State Rep. Steve Malagari and Sen. Maria Collett at Indian Crest Middle School in Souderton.

-- South Whitehall Township Earth Day Cleanup - Sat, Apr 23 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, contact Mike Kukitz at mailto:kukitzm@southwhitehall.com or 610-398-0401 or register at recdesk.com/Community/Program. Work will include improvements to pavilions, cleaning play equipment, planting flowers and beautifying the park system!

-- Cobbs Creek Clean Up at Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia County - Sun, Apr 24 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM, registration is required by Saturday, April 23 at 5 p.m. Contact Andrew Wheeler at andrew.wheeler1025@gmail.com or 267-257-1910. Join to clean a historic section of Cobbs Creek at Woodland Avenue and Cobbs Creek Parkway.

-- Valley Community Library Clean-Up, Lackawanna County - Mon, Apr 25 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM, contact Fawn Contreras at fcontreras@albright.org or 570-470-4054. Clean the areas around the library with Keep Northeastern PA Beautiful, The Valley Community Library, Lackawanna Heritage Valley Association and NEPA Sierra Club.

To Host An Event

To host an event, join an event near you, or to inquire about free supplies and trash disposal, visit KPB’s Pick Up Pennsylvania webpage or contact Michelle Dunn, Pick Up Pennsylvania Program Coordinator, at 877-772-3673 ext. 113 or mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.    

“Cleaning up your neighborhood is one of the best investments you can make. Whether your community has vacant lots plagued with debris, natural areas that experience illegal dumping or litter scattered and blown from other sources, any neighborhood can benefit from a cleanup or beautification event. We invite all Pennsylvanians – individuals, friends, family and organized groups to join us and make a difference in your own neighborhood,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “This year we hope even more people find the time to help improve their communities and make every day Earth Day.”

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful recommends following all applicable federal, state, and local health and safety rules for Novel Coronavirus (Covid 19) in effect at the time of the event.

Initiative Supporters

Current 2022 Pick Up Pennsylvania supporters include: The GIANT Company, GreenPrint, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania funded by the Nisource Charitable Foundation, Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association,  Coca-Cola, Braskem, Sheetz, Giant Eagle, Mahantango, Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, Republic Services, Vistra Energy – Luminant, Wegmans and Weis Markets.

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.

Keep PA Beautiful helps mobilize over 100,000 volunteers a year to pick up litter, clean up illegal dumping and beautify Pennsylvania.

Related Articles:

-- PA Resources Council Announces 4 Traveling Glass Recycling Bin Locations In Allegheny, Mercer Counties During May

-- PA Resources Council Hosts Household Chemical Collection Events In Allegheny, Cambria Counties During May

-- Keep PA Beautiful’s Fayette County Affiliate Transitions From All Volunteer Led To County Recycling Office

[Posted: April 19, 2022]

4/25/2022