(FOX43) The organization will implement a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program at up to 17 service plazas and interchange access buildings across the state.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced this week it will make a new effort aimed at cleaning up tobacco-related litter at rest stops along the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

The organization announced it will partner with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to implement the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program at up to 17 service plazas and interchange access buildings across the state, using a $20,000 grant received from Keep America Beautiful.

The CLPP program will begin with a scan, or physical count, of cigarette butts and other tobacco related products littering each service plaza, the organization said. Ash receptacles will then be installed at the entrance to buildings and other transition points.

Two additional scans will be performed, one midway through the year and a final count at the end of the program.

The effectiveness of the program will be measured by comparing the pre and post program scan of the physical count of cigarette butts and other tobacco products.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful said it will provide educational messaging about the consequences of cigarette and other tobacco related litter for displaying at participating service plazas.

“The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and our Sustainability Committee are proud to partner with Keep PA Beautiful to enhance current efforts to curb cigarette litter at our service plazas,” said Keith Jack, Director of Facilities Operations and co-chair of the Turnpike’s Sustainability Committee. “With more than 550,000 daily users across our system, we also hope to bolster awareness to travelers about the issue of proper cigarette butt disposal with educational messaging and marketing campaigns and by placing cigarette ash receptacles at entrances to service plaza buildings and other high-volume transition points.”

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