Communities across the region were alive with volunteers this April in celebration of Earth Month and the 2024 Susquehanna Greenway Cleanup Month.

During April 1 – 30, 2024, partnering communities and organizations from across the Commonwealth organized 24 events that attracted over 950 volunteers and collectively removed more than 40,000 pounds of litter from area parks, trails, and communities along the Susquehanna River.

Events organized and led by local groups and organizations were held in the communities of Sayre, Falls, Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Jersey Shore, Newberry, Williamsport, South Williamsport, Montgomery, Milton, Lewisburg, Selinsgrove, Sunbury, Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg,  Wormleysburg, Steelton and Hellam.

“What started as a single-town cleanup in 2018 has since grown to a month-long initiative that ties together communities all along the Susquehanna River,” explains SGP Executive Director Leslie Warriner. “In its 6th year, we are just thrilled to see the enthusiasm of these amazing partners, community groups, nonprofits, and volunteers so committed to making the Susquehanna Greenway a better place to live, work, and explore.”

The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership supports cleanup efforts and events in a variety of ways depending on the experience and needs of the event host.

Assistance includes convening the interested parties, providing promotional assistance, sharing resources for event planning and organization, answering questions and offering support for litter disposal, soliciting volunteers, identifying locations and coordinating with site owners, hosting groups, and securing no-cost cleanup materials such as bags, gloves, and safety vests.

These supplies were acquired through the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Pick Up Pennsylvania initiative, which offers registered events free materials via a collaborative partnership with the Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT, and Keep America Beautiful Program.

Trash Collection Results

The results, organized by community, are as follows:

-- Sayre: Six volunteers led by Futurescapes cleaned up 66 pounds of trash along the Diahoga Trail between Athens & Sayre.

-- Falls: Endless Mountains Heritage Region & Susquehanna Kayak & Canoe Rentals led 10 volunteers on a pick-up paddle, removing 165 pounds of trash from the Susquehanna River’s North Branch.

-- Bloomsburg: Eight volunteers cleared 280 pounds of trash from along Fort McClure Boulevard during a cleanup facilitated by the Town of Bloomsburg.

-- Lock Haven: Downtown Lock Haven saw five volunteers clear 75 pounds of trash from the community.

-- Jersey Shore: 52 volunteers from the Jersey Shore High School Outdoor Club picked up 350 pounds of trash from several locations throughout the community. Additionally, the Borough of Jersey Shore led 10 volunteers who picked up another 250 pounds of litter.

-- Newberry: 35 volunteers led by the Newberry Community Partnership cleaned up 281 pounds of litter and 71 pounds of recyclables from the Newberry neighborhood within Williamsport.

-- Williamsport: 18 volunteers from Lycoming College and the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership staff and board of directors collectively gathered 300 pounds of trash from along the Susquehanna River Walk.

-- South Williamsport: Lycoming Audubon and Robert Porter Allen Natural Area together had 13 volunteers clear 240 pounds of litter along the river frontage of the Robert Porter Allen Natural Area. 

-- Montgomery: 11 volunteers from Montgomery Borough cleaned up 740 pounds of litter from Montgomery Park.

-- Milton: Four volunteers, plus Susquehanna Greenway Partnership staff, cleared 560 pounds of trash from Milton State Park.

-- Lewisburg: 15 volunteers with Lewisburg Neighborhoods cleaned up 300 pounds of trash from Hufnagle Park and the Bull Run Neighborhood, and 35 volunteers completed spring trail maintenance along the Dale’s Ridge Trail with the Merrill W. Linn Land & Waterways Conservancy including the removal of invasive species.

-- Selinsgrove: Six volunteers of the Isle of Que Krew led a cleanup along the Isle of Que, collecting 350 pounds of trash. Additionally, 80 volunteers from Susquehanna University collected 1,200 pounds of litter throughout the month. An Earth Day Celebration was also held by Citizen's Climate Lobby at East Snyder Park.

-- Sunbury: 175 volunteers led by the Susquehanna River Cleanup Project cleared 6,500 pounds of litter, 3,300 pounds of tires, and a trailer full of metal debris. The Little Shamokin Creek Watershed Association led 50 volunteers on a cleanup of the creek, tributaries, and roads, collecting 1,840 pounds of trash.

-- Sunbury Old Towne Neighborhood, a committee of Sunbury's Revitalization, Inc. saw three volunteers clear 120 pounds of trash from downtown Sunbury along Market Street.

-- Harrisburg: 425 volunteers led by Tri County Community Action collected five tons (10,000 pounds) of trash from the Harrisburg area, and properly disposed of an additional six tons of discarded tires.

-- Wormleysburg: 15 volunteers cleanup up Front Street in the Borough of Wormleysburg, collecting 450 pounds of trash.

-- Mechanicsburg: 13 volunteers gathered 150 pounds of litter along Lamb’s Gap Road and planted 25 trees.

-- Steelton: Steelton Borough's Clean Streets, Happy Feet & Community Garden Cleanup event led 17 volunteers who collected 1,320 pounds of trash.

-- Hellam: Susquehanna Riverlands State Park led a cleanup of Codorus Creek with three volunteers collecting 300 pounds of litter.

The Susquehanna Greenway is a corridor of connected trails, parks, river access points, and communities, linking people to the natural and cultural treasures of the Susquehanna River.

It is championed by the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, whose mission is to grow the Greenway by building connections along the Susquehanna River, inspiring people to engage with the outdoors, and transforming communities into places where people want to live, work, and explore.

More specifically, SGP convenes local & state leaders to facilitate community-led projects that connect residents & visitors to the outdoor opportunities along the Susquehanna River and grow the Greenway’s network of trails, parks, boat launches, conserved lands, and natural assets. 

They also provide guided experiences to the public, offering a repertoire of outdoor programing and events that include educational workshops, paddling programs, an outdoor expo, and, of course, the Susquehanna Greenway Cleanup Month.

SGP could not be happier with the enthusiasm shown for the cleanup and would like to thank the partnering organizations and dedicated volunteers who helped make this initiative a success!

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Partnership or  Like them on Facebook.  Click Here to support their work.

(Photos: Row- 1- Cleanups in Newberry neighborhood; Diahoga Trails in Sayre; Dale’s Ridge Trail in Lewisburg; Milton State Park; Row- 2-  Isle of Que Krew in Selinsgrove; Susquehanna River volunteers in Sunbury; Row-3- Wormleysburg volunteers; Jersey Shore High School Volunteers)

Special Link:

-- We’re Heard This Before: ‘We’re Providing Jobs - Stopping Pollution Threatens Jobs’ - A Brief Review Of Pennsylvania’s Conservation History  [PaEN]

Related Articles:

-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council To Hear Presentations On Electronic, Food Processing Waste, Air Quality Regs At May 14 Meeting  [PaEN]

-- Reworld, Goodwill Keystone Area Introduce Free Electronic Waste Recycling In 22 Central, Southeast Pennsylvania Counties  [PaEN]

-- DEP Accepting Applications For 2023 Recycling Performance Grants Thru Dec. 31  [PaEN]

-- DEP To Propose Changes To Coproduct Determination Process In Residual Waste Regulations; Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners Tried To Use This Process To Legalize Road Dumping Their Wastewater  [PaEN]

-- Reminder: DEP To Hold May 29 Hearing On Blythe Demolition Landfill Permit Renewal In Schuylkill County

-- Keep PA Beautiful’s Young Ambassador Program Recognized With Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence; Students Can Apply Now [PaEN]

-- Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Announces Litter Hawk Youth Award Program Winners  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna Greenway Communities Unite To Collect 40,000+ Pounds Of Trash [PaEN] 

-- ClearWater Conservancy: Volunteers Made A Difference On Watershed Cleanup Day  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Keep PA Beautiful: Litter Hawk Winners; Governors Award; Litter Free School Zones; Pick Up Pennsylvania Runs Thru May 31

-- TribLive: Ecotone Renewables Turns Food Waste Into Gold With Soil Sauce

-- WHYY: After Decades Of Pressure, Eastwick Neighborhood In Philadelphia Celebrates Major Milestone In Clearview Landfill Cleanup

-- Cleveland.com: Oil And Gas Wastewater Injection Wells Owned By Ohio Senator Are Leaking; State Paid $1.3 Million To Clean It Up

[Posted: May 8, 2024]

5/13/2024