Several organizations and programs in Pennsylvania received awards this year from Keep America Beautiful. The awards will be presented at the Keep America Beautiful National Conference in New Orleans, LA, November 29th through December 2nd.
The awards from Keep America Beautiful received in Pennsylvania includes their National Award, Innovation Award, Great American Cleanup and Department of Transportation Partnership Award, and State Affiliate Recognition Award.
National Award - Honoring outstanding projects and programs concentrated in litter prevention, beautification, and waste reduction/recycling throughout the nation.
First Place - Kennett Township
Kennett Township was nominated for its work on beautifying the abandoned area between their entrance and exit ramps to a limited-access highway in their township. The township Environmental Advisory Council, staffed only by volunteers, undertook a major beautification of the area and planted 13,000 hybrid lily bulbs, 150 rose bushes, mulched the area and watered. This spring, there was a dazzling eye-catching display for both residents and tourist traffic to enjoy. First were the eleven varieties of Asiatic lilies which were designed to flower over several weeks. They ranged in height from 25 to 45 inches and colors ranged from white to dark rose with the majority being yellow and orange. As they faded, roses of various shades began blooming. The EAC team recruited family, friends and some Lions Club members to volunteer to do the planting and mulching. Groups of two to ten people worked over a period of 60 hours for a total effort of 300 hours. Longwood Gardens also provided in-kind supplies and services.
Second Place - Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful contacted the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority in the summer of 2009 to introduce the program and see if the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority would be interested in doing the illegal dumps survey in Lebanon County. The Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority was eager to participate and do the work. Over several months, the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority drove 2,566 miles documenting illegal dumpsites. There were 43 dumpsites identified containing an estimated 36 tons of trash. The Authority has a strong presence throughout the county. It was not a surprise then when they solicited volunteers through their county-wide newsletter to cleanup these sites that volunteers came knocking. Six months after the survey release the Authority and its volunteers and fellow residents had cleaned up every site in the survey at least once. In total they picked up 28.36 tons of trash and 1,500 tires. The Authority is also working to identify and apprehend those dumping with landowners and other law officials.
Innovation Award - Salutes affiliates that have created innovative programs and partnerships to further the mission of Keep America Beautiful.
First Place - Keep Philadelphia Beautiful
Bags to Blankets is a school awareness program promoting the Bring It Back Philly plastic bag recycling initiative - a public education and outreach effort aimed at increasing awareness of the recyclability of plastic bags and wraps, and locations where they can be conveniently recycled. Keep Philadelphia Beautiful united businesses, nonprofits, and community and government organizations around the common goal of promoting the recycling of plastic bags and wraps. Over 300 retailers in Philadelphia are now recycling plastic bags at their location. Running from November 2010 through February 2011, ten schools participated in the Bags to Blankets Program. Students collected over 20,000 bags and participated in retailer tabling events to disseminate information to customers. Over 100 blankets were donated to organizations assisting families in need in the name of the partnering school and store including Red Cross and St. Francis Soup Kitchen.
Great American Cleanup and Department of Transportation Partnership Award - Awarding exemplary contributions and support of Keep America Beautiful and its Great American Cleanup.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
During the annual Great American Cleanup of PA, PennDOT provides tremendous support to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful through its Adopt-A-Highway program and continues to work with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to enhance and improve this operational relationship. PennDOT routinely utilizes its network of 7,500 AAH groups to promote the Great American Cleanup of PA and encourages participation in the event, distributes KAB’s drop shipment of supplies in Harrisburg, along with supplies from other donors, to its 67 county maintenance facilities throughout the state, and distributes bags, gloves, and safety vests to all registered participants in the Great American Cleanup of PA. By working together, PennDOT and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful have removed over 61 million pounds of litter and waste from Pennsylvania’s roadways/landscape, and tens of thousands of trees, bulbs, and flowers have been planted. This is the ninth year in a row they have received this award!
State Affiliate Recognition Award - Recognizes state leaders for exemplary efforts to support the mission and objectives of Keep America beautiful in their state.
Gold Level - Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful was one of seven state affiliates to be recognized at the Gold Level for the State Affiliate Recognition Award carrying out programs such as the Great American Cleanup of PA, International Coastal Cleanup, Cigarette Litter Prevention Program, and America Recycle Days among others. In the 2010 - 2011 fiscal year, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, its affiliates, and volunteers properly disposed 8,200,000 pounds of trash, collected 306,800 pounds of scrap, cleaned 12,716 miles of road, properly disposed 35,876 tires, and 164,996 volunteers donated 658,708 hours.