Driven by her love for the outdoors, community steward Sue Wiseman took a stand to protect Pennsylvania’s natural beauty. When the horses she and her daughter were riding refused to pass by illegally dumped trash on a nearby trail, Sue was inspired to take action. She founded PA CleanWays, now known as Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, to address the issue and preserve the environment for future generations.

Sue Wiseman visits an illegal dumpsite in Westmoreland County.

First Illegal dump survey in Westmoreland County

PA CleanWays achieved a milestone by completing the first comprehensive county-wide illegal dump survey in Westmoreland County. This effort marked the beginning of a dedication campaign to identify and address illegal dumping sites. The survey not only highlighted the extent of the issue but also galvanized local support and awareness, setting a precedent for similar surveys and clean-up projects across the state.

Pam Pershing, founding PA CleanWays board member, surveys an illegal dumpsite in Westmoreland County.

PA CleanWays made a significant leap by establishing county chapters (now known as affiliates), beginning with PA CleanWays of Westmoreland County. Today, this pioneering affiliate is known as Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling, the leading environmental and recycling organization in Westmoreland County.

Jack Driscoll, PA CleanWays of Westmoreland County’s first Executive Director, staffs an education event.

PA CleanWays operated a tree bank from 1993 through 2005, supplying native tree seedlings to local chapters for planting on public lands. The program received trees and materials from the National Tree Trust and other partners. Seedlings were potted and nurtured on-site until they were strong enough for successful transplanting. The tree bank itself was located on property generously donated by ARC Technologies. Over the life of the program, nearly 23,000 trees were distributed, making a lasting contribution to community beautification efforts.

Former KPB employee, Karen Fritz, (standing, second from right), Stephanie Larson, Communications and Program Manager (standing, far right), and tree bank volunteers in 2002.

The first of five books in the Open Your Eyes to Litter series is printed. This impactful series, now comprising five books and teacher’s guides, in English and Spanish, has been instrumental in raising awareness and educating our communities about the importance of litter prevention. One million copies have been used by students across Pennsylvania!

The original versions of our Open Your Eyes to Litter series.

PA CleanWays is awarded a grant of 7.5 million over eight years from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Through the Forestlands Beautification Program, 300 illegal dump sites were identified and cleaned on Pennsylvania’s state forest and park lands – 6,800,000 pounds of trash and 30,000 tires were removed by 2,500 volunteers.

Front row: Joe Giglio, founding PA CleanWays board members, John Frederick, Executive Director of Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania; Back row: Sue Wiseman, founder of PA CleanWays, Anna Breinich, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, John Oliver, Secretary of PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Gretchen Leslie, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

PA CleanWays’ first urban chapter, Allegheny CleanWays, was formed in 2000, expanding our mission into a major city for the first time.

Becky Richardson, KPB Program Coordinator (standing, third from right) and chapter volunteers.

Ridge Road North, South Middleton Township, Cumberland County – 470,000 pounds of trash collected. This massive cleanup took 11 days to clean and is the largest in PA CleanWays/Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful history!

Stephanie Larson, Communications and Program Manager (3rd from left), Heidi Pedicone, Director of Programs (6th from left), and community volunteers form a human chain.

PA CleanWays launched the Statewide Illegal Dump Survey Program in Erie County to develop a comprehensive plan addressing illegal dumping, including public policy, resource allocation, community education, and cleanup efforts.

Former KPB employee, Sandy Carlson, surveys an illegal dumpsite.

PA CleanWays launched the first online registration and reporting system for the Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania. This innovative system for its time allowed for significant grassroots participation and program growth. Now known as Pick Up Pennsylvania, the program has equipped 2.5 million volunteers with tools, resources, and supplies.

Volunteers clean up an illegal dumpsite.

The PA CleanWays Board of Directors unanimously voted to merge with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. The merger was completed in 2010, and PA CleanWays began operating as Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, becoming the State Affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Affiliates come together for an Affiliate Roundtable.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful became the Pennsylvania Coordinator for the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, the world’s largest volunteer initiative aimed at preventing trash from reaching our waterways and oceans. Each year, tens of thousands of volunteers remove an average of 703,000 pounds of trash from Pennsylvania waterways and land preventing harm to ecosystems, marine life, and local economies near and far.

Michelle Dunn, Pennsylvania Coordinator for the International Coastal Cleanup and Shannon Reiter, Executive Director, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful attend a cleanup on Little Tinicum Island, Delaware County.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful initiated the Illegal Dump Free PA program, aimed at combating illegal dumping through enhanced enforcement support. This program, funded by the PA Department of Environmental Protection, introduced a surveillance camera loan initiative in Western Pennsylvania which led to its first three illegal dumping convictions. To date, this program has helped secure over 100 convictions statewide.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission install surveillance cameras in Washington County.

The Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful statewide Illegal Dump Survey initiative was completed. The initiative took 10 years to complete and identified 6,487 illegal dumpsites containing an estimated 18,516.83 tons (over 37 million pounds) of trash.

Top: Helen Ostermiller, former KPB DCNR Project Manager (behind sign, white shirt) and cleanup volunteers at Tuscarora Doubling Gap. (2005)

Bottom: Elisabeth McCoy, Clinton County CleanScapes (far right), Sue Urchek, former KPB Program Coordinator (6th from right), and cleanup volunteers, Sproul State Forest. (2004)

In celebration of America Recycles Day and the 25th anniversary of Pennsylvania’s recycling law, the PA Recycling Markets Center, PA Department of Environmental Protection, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, PA Waste Industry Association, and the PA Historical and Museum Commission presented Recycling Works!, an exhibit at The State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – 14,383 individuals toured the exhibit.

Shannon Reiter, Executive Director, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Bob Bylone, President & CEO Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center, Chris Abruzzo, Secretary, PA Department of Environmental Protection, and representatives from PA Waste Industry Association and Recycling Markets Center.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful released its comprehensive report, Illegal Dumping in Pennsylvania: A Decade of Discovery – Recommended Policies and Programs for Future Prevention and Enforcement. This pivotal document presents findings from a decade-long investigation into illegal dumping across the state and offers actionable strategies to address the issue including a network of rural transfer stations to ensure universal access to convenient and affordable trash disposal and recycling in Pennsylvania by allowing for rural transfer stations.

Rural Transfer Station located in McHenry Township, Elk County.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful released The Pennsylvania Litter Research Study, revealing that Pennsylvania’s roads are littered with over 500 million pieces of trash, emphasizing the need for behavior change as a means of reducing litter at its source and fostering long-term environmental stewardship.

Shannon Reiter, Executive Director, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful; Natasha Fackler, PA Department of Transportation;  and Patrick McDonnell, Secretary, PA Department of Environmental Protection participate in a discussion about the litter study and litter in Pennsylvania on WESA FM Radio, Pittsburgh’s National Public Radio station.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful released The Cost of Litter and Illegal Dumping in Pennsylvania, documenting that just nine cities spend a staggering $68 million annually tackling litter and illegal dumping, with 80% going to cleanups and only 13% to prevention.

From right, Shannon Reiter, Executive Director, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful; Jan Huzvar, PA Department of Transportation; Natasha Fackler, PA Department of Transportation; accepting the State Partnership Award from Helen Lowman, Executive Director of Keep America Beautiful (second from right).

Faith Milazzo was honored with the inaugural Community Pride Award, following a nomination by State Representative Tony DeLuca. Since then, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has partnered with 24 public officials to recognize stewards across the state.

PA Representative Anthony DeLuca, Sr., Faith Milazzo, Shannon Reiter, Executive Director, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, and Myrna Newman, Executive Director of Allegheny CleanWays.

Through a partnership with The GIANT Company, the first round of Healing the Planet grants totaling $637,000 was awarded in support of connecting families with green space. In its fifth year, more than $1.2 million has been awarded to 140 recipients for projects that protect local waterways and water resources, addressed food waste prevention, reduction, and recovery, promoted tree planting initiatives and more!

Healing the Planet grant recipient.

The PA Fights Dirty Campaign, an anti-littering campaign to educate Pennsylvanians on situational littering, such as leaving trash on the ground next to a full can or in a stadium, and to remind Pennsylvanians that litter of all sizes adds up and creates problems, wins an Emmy!

Ramez Ziadeh, Acting Deputy Secretary, PA Department of Environmental Protection (third from right); Yassmin Gramian, PA Department of Transportation (fourth from right), Phoebe Wetzel, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Board Chair (second from left), and Kylie McCutcheon, Affiliate Coordinator, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (far left) attend the campaign launch.

The inaugural Litter Hawk Youth Award Exhibit was on display at the State Capitol in Harrisburg. The award provides a way for students in kindergarten through grade 6 to express their concerns about litter through art, words or video.

Litter Hawk Youth Award program recipient, her mother, and Shannon Reiter, Executive Director, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, at the PA State Capitol Building ceremony in Harrisburg.

Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania Wins Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. The Young Ambassadors program is offered in partnership with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and builds community stewards and civic leaders by inspiring and empowering young Pennsylvanians to become ambassadors in their community for a shared vision of a clean and beautiful PA.

Kylie McCutcheon, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Affiliate Coordinator, and Brady, Young Ambassador class of 2023 attend the Governor’s Award recognition ceremony.

Shannon Reiter, Executive Director of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, took part in Climate Week NYC at Rockefeller Center underscoring the organization’s commitment to environmental stewardship and litter prevention, aligning with national efforts to build cleaner, greener communities.

Shannon Reiter, Executive Director, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Ken Anderson, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful board member, and Jenny Lawson, Keep America Beautiful President and CEO.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful rang the opening bell at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square, New York, a symbolic moment celebrating the organization’s impact on environmental stewardship and community revitalization across the Commonwealth.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful joins Jenny Lawson, President and CEO (center), Keep America Beautiful at the Nasdaq MarketSite.

A Pick Up Pennsylvania kickoff event was held on Greentree Road in Pittsburgh, bringing together two of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s key partners, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has offered Pick Up Pennsylvania, one of their signature programs and the Commonwealth’s largest community improvement program, since 2004.

Steely McBeam and Shannon Reiter, Executive Director of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, teamed up to pick up litter on Greentree Road.