Keep PA Beautiful Kicks Off Pick Up Pennsylvania Litter Cleanup, Beautification Program March 1

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful kicks off the Pick Up Pennsylvania litter cleanup and beautification program March 1. 

This annual community improvement initiative offers registered participants free trash bags, gloves, and safety vests provided by support from the Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT and Keep America Beautiful, as supplies last. 

Events can include litter cleanups, illegal dump cleanups, community greening and beautification, special collections and public education events. 

Events must be registered at Pick Up Pennsylvania to receive free cleanup supplies. 

As part of this event, the Department of Environmental Protection and PAWaste Industries Association are sponsoring trash disposal, free of charge or at a reduced rate, for registered program participants at participating landfills from April 1 through April 30, with prior approval. 

Each year, volunteers remove an average of 7 million pounds of trash and tires from our roads, waterways, parks, trails and other shared public spaces, through this initiative.

If you see volunteers along the road picking up litter, make sure to watch out for their safety!

“Starting in March of last year, we have completed 14 separate beautification projects. With support from PennDOT, we conducted cleanups throughout our neighborhood of East Falls,” said Mary Jane Fullam, President of East Falls Town Watch and cleanup coordinator. “Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful launched our efforts. We are looking forward to reaping the benefits of affiliating with the Pick Up Pennsylvania program again this year.”

“After the year we just had, many folks are eager to get outside and make a difference in their neighborhood. Picking up litter is a simple, easy activity that most people can do and the results are immediate. We’re looking forward to supporting efforts across the state,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep PA Beautiful. “We are thankful for our sponsors and all the volunteers who participate each year and make it all possible.”

2021 participants are encouraged to observe the most recent social distancing guidelines and are encouraged to clean up in small groups, with family members or solo. 

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

Video Contest

Anyone participating in Pick Up Pennsylvania can earn cash prizes for their nonprofit or charity of choice by entering the Pick Up Pennsylvania Video Contest. 

Send Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful a 60-second video of your event showing how you keep Pennsylvania beautiful. 

Your event must be registered with Pick Up Pennsylvania to participate. For details, visit the Pick Up Pennsylvania Video Contest webpage.

Sponsors

Current 2021 Pick Up Pennsylvania supporters include: Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania funded by the NiSource Charitable Foundation, The Giant Company, Coca-Cola, Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association, Wawa, Giant Eagle, Luminent - Fayette Energy Facility, Mahantango Enterprises, Inc., PA Food Merchants Association, Republic Services and Wegmans. 

If you are interested in becoming a supporter of the 2021 Pick Up Pennsylvania initiative contact Shannon Reiter at 724-836-4121 or sreiter@keeppabeautiful.org.    

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:

-- Keep PA Beautiful: Volunteers Across PA Collected Over 1 Million Waste Tires For Recycling, Proper Disposal

-- Keep PA Beautiful Local Affiliates Recycle 1.1 Million Pounds Of E-Waste, 11,800 Tires In Special Collection Events In 2020

-- Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Recognizes Outstanding 2020 Volunteers Of The Year

-- KPB Surveillance Cameras Catch Illegal Dumping In Michaux State Forest; Reports Of Illegal Dumping Up 212% In 2020

-- Keep PA Beautiful Adoption Program Helps Reduce Local Litter Cleanup Costs

-- Keep PA Beautiful Local Affiliates Encourage Recycling With Educational Videos

[Posted: February 23, 2021]  PA Environment Digest