Chester County Litter Lifters: Nearly 50 Volunteers Make 2 Cleanup Events On April 4 A Success As Part Of America 250PA Celebration

The Chester County Litter Lifters (CCLL) organized two major cleanups in Coatesville on April 4th resulting in 65 bags of litter being collected on Valley Road/ Rt 342 and just over 2 tons of contractor waste and other litter was removed from an embankment of the West Branch of the Brandywine Creek behind the Courtyard by Marriott on Rt 82.

CCLL is a group of  PennDOT Adopt A Highway volunteers who organize litter cleanups throughout Chester County. 

The beautiful city of Coatesville is one area of the county that is getting attention from the group.  

They have been working with Chester County government leaders, residents, and businesses to implement effective litter management since 2021. 

Residents in the city and surrounding areas of Coatesville have been working hard cleaning up their community! 

These were the 8th and 9th cleanups in Coatesville since September 2024.  

23 volunteers picked up litter on Valley Rd within the city limits for three hours starting at 7:30 am with the Coatesville Police Department providing safety oversight for the volunteers and the city Public Works department providing haul away.  

The second cleanup that day started at 11:00 am, with 24 volunteers traversing the wooded area leading to the West Branch of the Brandywine Creek behind the busy Courtyard by Marriott. 

Illegal dumping was recently discovered by Beth Intoccia, chair of CCLL, during the 7th Coatesville cleanup of the intersections of Routes 340 and 82 near the hotel. 

Instead of waiting for somebody else to clean it up, Chester County Litter Lifters activated! 

Lead event planner Dyanna Merrick utilized Facebook groups to engage the community. 

Waste Connections’ AJ Blosenski stepped up to provide a dumpster and the Marriott provided water and lunch in appreciation for the group.  

The volunteers carefully hauled up over 2 tons of debris from the land and along the edge of the water. 

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (KPB) has many initiatives to help residents and businesses get involved with beautification efforts across the state. 

Beth signed up to be a KPB Waterway Steward, with the responsibility of observing and acting on litter issues present in our waterways. 

The April 4 cleanup protected the West Branch of the Brandywine Creek. 

Thank You!

Special thanks to the following partners: Waste Connections’ AJ Blosenski, Coatesville Police and Public Works,  Roberta Cosentino, Assistant City Manager, Coatesville Courtyard by Marriott, PA Fish And Boat Commission, Steve Ohrwaschel-Coventry Environmental Services, Erica Deuso- Mayor of Downingtown, Wawa, area businesses who provided gift cards, JT Tree Service, Barber Plumbing HVAC, Dyanna Merrick lead event planner, and all the tireless volunteers who showed up for the entire day of beautification. 

America 250PA

This was the 17th event in the county since January 1 that CCLL has organized in celebration and preparation of America 250 PA. 

“We want Chester County to look its best! We will have many tourists visiting Philadelphia - the birthplace of America - and the surrounding counties are beautiful with lots of history, and trails and waterways to explore,” said Beth Intoccia.

 Environmental stewardship is one of the 12 platforms of America 250 PA.

To find out how to organize a group, clean up a road, clean up a trail, or volunteer contact: Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful; Keep Chester County Beautiful; and America 250 Chesco 

Resource Link:

-- DEP Changing PA’s Littering Habit: Turn A Mess Into A Movement - Pick Up Every Piece

Related Articles This Week:

-- Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy's 2026 Stream Cleanup A Record Breaking Success Thanks To 2,052 Volunteers [PaEN] 

-- Chester County Litter Lifters: Nearly 50 Volunteers Make 2 Cleanup Events On April 4 A Success As Part Of America 250PA Celebration  [PaEN]

[Posted: April 15, 2026] PA Environment Digest