Avid Cyclist, Litter Fighter From Ross Honored By Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful As A Volunteer Of The Year
(Trib Live) In the eighth decade of his life, Ken Duerig keeps active with two obsessions. One is bicycling. The other is picking up trash.
He’s found ways to combine them — picking up trash as he pedals.
“I plan my daily rides based on where I think I may find good trash prospecting,” said Duerig, 71, of Ross. “I am so obsessed that if I don’t find as much as I expected, I feel disappointed.”
When he’s not fighting litter on his own, Duerig volunteers with Allegheny CleanWays. He has been helping the organization clean up illegal dump sites since 2021.
“Every time I get to a cleanup and see a bicyclist coming up, I know it must be Ken,” said Matt Nemeth, communications coordinator for Allegheny CleanWays. “He’s biked to every cleanup I’ve seen him at, which is pretty inspiring, given the hilly terrain of communities we often work in.”
Nominated by Allegheny CleanWays, Duerig was one of five recognized as volunteers of the year for 2025 by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
Read the inspiring stories of the other awardees of the Volunteer of the Year Award!
