EPCAMR’s mission is to encourage the reclamation and redevelopment of land affected by past mining practices.
This includes reducing hazards to health and safety, eliminating soil erosion, improving water quality, and returning land affected by past mining practices to productive use, thereby improving the economy of the region.
The new Affiliate’s service area includes the counties of Carbon, Columbia, Sullivan, and Northumberland.
EPCAMR successfully completed Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s comprehensive Community Assessment.
This vital process gathered crucial data across six key areas: residents’ attitudes towards litter and community image, existing litter prevention programs, community and beautification leaders, current waste and recycling policies, past and ongoing community revitalization efforts, and active volunteer groups.
The insights gained will be instrumental in shaping a local plan aimed at transforming attitudes and behaviors around litter, recycling, beautification, and related issues.
EPCAMR has frequently organized or collaborated in community improvement programming such as illegal dumpsite cleanups, tree plantings and other beautification efforts in Luzerne County, where EPCAMR is headquartered, but has also successfully completed projects on abandoned mine lands, such as Centralia, Columbia County, and in sensitive watershed areas across its 16-county territory.
EPCAMR estimates it has been involved in 90 cleanup events over the past 25 years, engaging more than 1,600 volunteers. Those cleanups have collectively resulted in the removal of nearly 8,500 tires and 402,000 pounds of trash.
“EPCAMR should have become an affiliate many years ago but lacked the capacity to coordinate the efforts. Over the years, some of my best colleagues and friends have come from getting to know them personally while picking up trash or slinging tires in our communities. We engage youth, who then inspire their parents, and before you know it, we have entire families and multiple generations working together on cleanups, fostering pride, stewardship and care for our waterways and land. EPCAMR looks forward to building new coalitions with Keep PA Beautiful Advisory Committee members to strengthen and expand our community-led environmental restoration efforts," said Bobby Hughes, EPCAMR Executive Director.
Maria Gereda, GIS Watershed Outreach Specialist, will serve as coordinator for the EPCAMR affiliate programs. The affiliate can be reached at mgereda@epcamr.org or 570-371-3522.
“Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is delighted to congratulate and welcome EPCAMR to our network. We are grateful that EPCAMR recognizes the value of our programs, tools, and resources in supporting and enhancing its works and we look forward to collaborating to broaden its impact across the region. We warmly welcome EPCAMR to our Affiliate Network,” said Shannon Reiter, Executive Director of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
For more information about Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s local affiliates, visit KPB’s Affiliate Network webpage
To inquire about starting an affiliate, contact Kylie McCutcheon at kmccutcheon@keeppabeautiful.org or 724-836-4121 x114.
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.
The 2026 Pick Up Pennsylvania Initiative is now underway! Questions should be directed to Michelle Dunn at 1-877-772-3673 Ext. 113 or send email to: mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.
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 16, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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