The Department of Environmental Protection, community leaders and organizations are inviting residents of northwest Pennsylvania to help clean up trash along the Lake Erie shoreline and watershed during the International Coastal Cleanup on September 15.

“We hope to see people from throughout the Lake Erie watershed gather to document and remove trash that is ending up in local waterways,” DEP Northwest Regional Director Kelly Burch said. “The more people who come to help, the greater the impact we’ll have in cleaning the lake’s shores and tributaries and gain a better understanding of what we can do to help prevent littering.”

This year, the local International Coastal Cleanup, the oldest and largest volunteer project of its kind, will include more than a dozen sites along the Lake Erie shoreline, from Raccoon Creek in western Erie County to North East Marina and Freeport Beach on the eastern end of the county.

In the past four years, more than 2,000 volunteers from the Erie area documented and collected trash from Erie County shorelines that totaled nearly 57,000 pounds. The information collected in that timeframe indicates that the most prevalent forms of litter are cigarette butts, food wrappers and beverage containers.

“We welcome volunteers of all ages to participate: individuals, families, clubs, school and church groups are all invited,” Presque Isle State Park Environmental Educator Anne DeSarro said. “Clearing trash so the natural beauty of our surroundings can be seen is rewarding, makes our environment healthier, enhances our quality of life and protects birds and aquatic life. Besides, it’s fun and provides a chance to meet other people who care about the outdoors.”

The September 15 event is sponsored by DEP, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Fish and Boat Commission, as well as many other local businesses, nonprofit groups and government agencies. The worldwide sponsor for the International Coastal Cleanup is the Ocean Conservancy.

To register as a cleanup volunteer, visit the Pennsylvania-Lake Erie International Coastal Cleanup website, or call Don Benczkowski at 814-573-3565.

8/31/2007