PA Environment Digest Blog: Be Part Of Keep PA Beautiful’s International Coastal Cleanups In November, Free Cleanup Supplies Available

Groups and individuals are cleaning up their favorite shared public spaces through Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Pick Up Pennsylvania Program, supporting the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup.

The International Cleanup is an initiative to keep trash from reaching our waterways and oceans.

Through November 30, volunteers will be provided trash bags, gloves, and safety vests, as supplies last, when they register a cleanup with Pick Up Pennsylvania.

Both waterway and land-based cleanups are eligible for the program since a significant portion of waterway pollution originates on land.

Wind and rain wash litter into storm drains or directly into creeks and rivers that eventually flow to the ocean where it impacts marine life, human health, and coastal economies.

Erie County proudly participates in the international coastal cleanup annually. This year, Keep Erie County Beautiful partnered with the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to host the Pennsylvania Lake Erie International Coastal Cleanup.

The cleanup saw approximately 1,000 dedicated volunteers covering 16 locations and 40 miles of shoreline and waterways! Together, they collected over 4,000 pounds of trash from in and around Erie County's waterways, preventing it from reaching the ocean.

"Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is proud to be the state coordinator for the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. Pennsylvania consistently ranks in the top five nationwide for volunteer participation and trash collection. We couldn't do it without the generosity of dedicated volunteers who roll up their sleeves to pick up trash before it makes it way to our waterways. Organizations, civic groups, schools, individuals, friends, and family can organize a cleanup of their favorite waterway, park, trail or other place they care about. Big or small, all cleanups make a difference,” said Michelle Dunn, Pick Up Pennsylvania Program Coordinator.

Events must be registered with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to receive supplies. You can join an existing cleanup event by visiting Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Calendar of Events or register your own, large or small, by visiting KPB’s Pick Up Pennsylvania Program webpage.

Cleanup Events

Listed below are just a few of the Pick Up Pennsylvania events scheduled in support of the International Coastal Cleanup. If you would like to join an event, please contact the coordinator to confirm participation.

-- Love Your Park Fall Weekend, Philadelphia County – Friday, November 8 at 12:00 PM; Over 90 parks will participate. Contact Fairmount Park Conservancy, Jose Duenas at eduenas@myphillypark.org or (215) 607-3487.

-- 2024 Campaign Sign Recycling Event, Delaware County - Friday, November 8 from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM and Saturday, November 9 from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM at Rose Tree County Park. All Campaign Signs and accompanying metal stands will be accepted free of charge. All applicable materials will be recycled; Contact Delaware County Office of Sustainability, Rebecca Yurkovich at yurkovichr@co.delaware.pa.us or (484) 846-2075.

-- Coatesville Litter Clean Up, Chester County - Saturday, November 9 from 7:30 AM - 2:00 PM; Help clean up Coatesville! First event is cleaning up Rt 82 will be run by the Litter Lifters of West Vincent - 7:30 AM - 11:00 AM. The second event is cleaning up the city streets and sidewalks and will be run by Shakira Davis of 2nd Century Alliance - 10 AM. - 2 PM. Contact Litter Lifters of West Vincent, Beth Intoccia at litterliftersofwestvincent@gmail.com or (484) 639-1067.

-- Sugar Notch Trail Tire Cleanup, Luzerne County – Sunday, November 17 from 9 AM – 1 PM; Contact Keep Northeastern PA Beautiful Rachael Stark at rstark@pecpa.org or (570) 905-7391.

Free trash bags, gloves and safety vests are provided by the Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT and the Ocean Conservancy, as supplies last. Events must be registered to receive the free supplies.

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.

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