Keep PA Beautiful: Free Cleanup Supplies Available For Registered Pick Up PA, International Coastal Cleanups Thru Nov. 30

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.

The Heritage Conservancy has been participating in Pick Up Pennsylvania for over 15 years. Recent cleanups have focused on keeping litter out of Bristol Marsh, a freshwater tidal marsh, and Croydon Woods, one of the last remaining coastal plain forests in the state. 

Because of their proximity to the Delaware River, these cleanups help stop trash from ending up there, preserving habitat for wildlife and migrating birds.

"Keep PA Beautiful has been instrumental in helping Heritage Conservancy in our efforts to host cleanups on properties in Bucks County. It is through Keep PA Beautiful that we have received access to supplies that help us facilitate our cleanups, as well as additional promotion of our events. Working together helps us all keep our home clean!" said Melissa Lee, Volunteer and Historic Events Coordinator, Heritage Conservancy. 

Events must be registered with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to receive supplies.

Upcoming Cleanups

You can join an existing cleanup event by visiting Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Calendar of Events webpage.

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.

-- Big Spring Watershed Association Fall Clean Up - Sat, Oct. 14 9:00AM - 11:00AM

Big Spring Watershed Association. Meet at Big Spring Headwaters parking lot.  Intersection of Big Spring, Log Cabin & Springfield Rds. Contact Linda Watson at watsonlinda501@gmail.com  or (717) 385-2297. 

-- Uwchlan Township Tree Vitalize - Sat, Oct. 14 9:00AM - 12:00 PM Families are welcome to join! There will be a self-guided Halloween themed scavenger hunt through the park for kids as part of this event. Gloves and tools will be supplied. Uwchlan EAC, Baird Park 715 N. Ship Road, Exton. Contact Jim Warihay at jim.warihay@gmail.com  or (484) 680-6913. 

-- Fall Street Sweep - Sat, Oct. 21 11:00AM - 1:00PM Scranton Tomorrow, an affiliate of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, 307 Linden St., Scranton, PA 18503. Contact Steve Ward at steve@scrantontomorrow.org  or (570) 877-2513. 

-- North Braddock Clean Up Day - Sat, Oct. 28 10:00AM - 2:00PM North Braddock Borough. Contact Jerome Sepesy at streetdept@northbraddockborough.com  or (412) 852-8248. 

-- Moshannon Creek Watershed Association Fall Cleanup - Sun, Oct. 29 9:00AM - 12:00PM Moshannon Creek Watershed Association, Dike Road, Philipsburg PA 16866 (Near Cold Stream Dam, meet at the soccer fields). Contact Marcus Englert at marcusenglert1@gmail.com  or (412) 292-9216. 

“We want to thank all the volunteers who help make our program successful. We are counting on the generosity of Pennsylvanians to roll up their sleeves again this fall to pick up trash before it makes its way to our waterways,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.  “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!”

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.

The 2023 Pick Up Pennsylvania Initiative will be held through November 30.  Questions should be directed to Michelle Dunn at 1-877-772-3673 Ext. 113 or send email to: mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.

Keep PA Beautiful helps mobilize over 100,000 volunteers a year to pick up litter, clean up illegal dumping and beautify Pennsylvania.

NewsClips:

-- Warren Times: 15th Allegheny River Cleanup A Success 

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: More Than 3,000 Illegally Dumped Tires Pulled From Schuylkill River During Dredging

-- AP: 3,000+ Illegally Dumped Tires Found In Dredging Schuylkill River

-- TribLive: Giant Eagle To Donate Money From Paper Bag Sales To Charities As Plastic Ban Takes Effect In Pittsburgh

-- Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Shoppers, Businesses Say Final Goodbyes To Plastic Bags

Related Article:

-- Out For Your Fall Hike And Find An Illegal Dump Site Or Graffiti Defacing The Environment?  Don’t Ignore It, Report It!  [PaEN]

[Posted: October 12, 2023]  PA Environment Digest