In celebration of Earth Day, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, whose vision is a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania, encourages residents to join the 2023 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 provided by support from the Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT and the Ocean Conservancy, as supplies last.

To help with the cost of trash disposal, DEP and Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association are sponsoring low or no cost disposal through April 30. During this time, trash collected at registered events can be taken to participating landfills, with prior approval.

216 Earth Day Cleanup Scheduled

Highlighted below are just a few of the 216 Pick Up Pennsylvania events scheduled for Earth Day weekend.

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.

-- Etna-Sharpsburg Earth Day Challenge, Allegheny County - Sat, Apr 22 9:00AM - 11:30AM, contact Megan Tunon at megan@etnacommunity.org  or (412) 660-4667. This event is a collaboration of two communities to clean their streets and streams.

-- Lower Southampton Township Community Clean Up Day, Bucks County - Sat, Apr 22 9:00AM - 12:00PM, contact Rich Coppens at mthackrah@lstwp.org  or (215) 357-7300. This cleanup is community-wide. Join your fellow residents and township staff or a location that's important to you. Document Shredding and Electronic Recycling available for Township Residents.

-- Earth Day Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup, Dauphin County - Sat, Apr 22 8:00AM - 11:00AM, contact Erika Lopez Martinez at elopezmartinez@cactricounty.org  or (717) 232-9757. This cleanup is coordinated by Keep Harrisburg-Dauphin Beautiful. Volunteers are needed throughout Harrisburg to pick litter, check-in volunteers, truck drivers to pick up trash bags (must have a vehicle), and dumpster monitors.

-- Nay Aug Community Cleanup, Lackawanna County - Sun, Apr 23 12:00AM - 3:00AM. Contact Fawn Contreras at fcontreras@albright.org  or (570) 489-1765. The Valley Community Library and NEPA Sierra Club have partnered with Nay Aug Park and the Scranton Public Libraries to do a family friendly cleanup of the trails, parking areas, and grounds of Nay Aug.

-- City of Williamsport Spring Cleanup, Lycoming County - Sat, Apr 22 9:00AM - 12:00PM, contact Lalitha Durlin at ljdurlin@yahoo.com  or (570) 939-5016. This communitywide cleanup is a collaboration between Newberry Community Partnership, Lycoming College, and Penn College.

-- Mifflinburg Earth Day Cleanup, Union County – Sat, April 22 8:00AM – 1:00PM, contact Michael Smith at mwsmith4440@gmail.com  or (570) 768-7825. This event will focus on Mifflinburg Community park, the local rail trail and areas around Mifflinburg that have a noticeable amount of litter.

Host A Cleanup

To host an event, join an event near you, or to inquire about free supplies and trash disposal, visit keeppabeautiful.org and choose Programs, then Pick Up PA 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 easiest and best investments you can make. Most people don’t think that small actions like cleaning up litter, planting a tree, painting a park bench or educating the community about the consequences of littering make an impact, but they really do. Everyone can make a difference in their neighborhood. You can start small by grabbing a bag each time you go for a walk. Register on our website for free supplies,” 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.”

Sponsors

Current 2023 Pick Up Pennsylvania supporters include: The GIANT Company, Wawa, Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association, Columbia Gas - NiSource Charitable Foundation, Mahantango Enterprises, Inc., PA Food Merchants Association, Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania, Giant Eagle and Vistra Energy - Luminant.

If you are interested in becoming a supporter contact Deb Woolley at dwoolley@keepppabeautiful.org.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, visit their YouTube Channel.

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

NewsClips:

-- LehighValleyNews.com: Lehigh Valley’s Litter Vigilantes: ‘It’s A Year-Round, Constant Effort’

-- MCall: Earth Day: Your Guide To Events And Cleanups Around Lehigh Valley

-- WTAJ: Keep Cambria County Beautiful: Tire, Appliance Recycling Events Returning

-- TribLive: Clean Up Days, Tree Plantings And More In Sewickley Area For Earth Day

-- Sen. Yaw Encourages Participation In National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day April 22

-- TribLive: Westmoreland Cleanways Accepting Many Types Of Plastics For Those Lacking Curbside Recycling

-- TribLive: Paper Not Plastic - Students Decorate Earth Day Bags For Monroevill, Pitcairn Stores

-- TribLive: Etna Borough Council To Consider Plastic Bag Ban

-- Erie Times Guest Essay: Industrial Disasters Raise Questions About Erie Plastics Recycling Plant

Related Articles:

-- PA Resources Council: Go ‘Green’ On Earth Day - And Every Day This Spring

-- Communities Celebrate Earth Day By Joining Keep PA Beautiful’s Pick Up Pennsylvania; 216 Cleanup Events Scheduled For Earth Day Weekend  [PaEN]

-- Independence Conservancy Hosts 4 Waste Tire Collection Events In Beaver County  [PaEN]

[Posted: April 20, 2023]

4/24/2023