DEP, PennDOT, Volunteers Participate In Great American Cleanup Of PA Event In Johnstown

On April 23, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell and Department of Transportation  District 9 Executive Thomas Prestash along with DEP and PennDOT employee volunteers collected trash along Stonycreek River in Cambria County as part of the Great American Cleanup Of PA.

“Earth Day is a great opportunity for DEP, PennDOT, and local government to engage with Pennsylvanians about the importance of protecting our environment and shine a spotlight on the work we do every day to create a healthy environment for generations to come,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “Getting trash off roads, trails, and streambanks makes communities more inviting, improves public health, and reduces stormwater runoff pollution.”

State officials were joined by local and county officials as well as representatives of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority, Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, Cambria County Conservation District, and the family of the late conservationist Jim Mayer.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful coordinates the campaign with support from DEP, PennDOT, the PA Waste Industries Association, and other partners.

Groups participating in PennDOT's Adopt-A-Highway program, which involves volunteers cleaning roadsides year-round, are also encouraged to take part in the campaign.

“PennDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway volunteer program has saved the commonwealth over $23 million dollars from 2015-2019,” said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards. “Words cannot express the gratitude we have for these selfless individuals and their desire to help make Pennsylvania’s roadways litter-free.”

Sign up now for the 2019 Great American Cleanup of PA and volunteer or set up your own cleanup and beautification event runs through May 31.

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.