(February 1, 2024)

~ Cleanup training webinar offered Feb 26 – Building a successful and sustainable community cleanup program ~

Are you ready to Fight Dirty? Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has announced that registration is open for the 2024 Pick Up Pennsylvania, an annual community improvement program. Pick Up Pennsylvania is a year-long initiative, however, events scheduled from March 1 through May 31 receive free trash bags, gloves, and safety vests provided by support from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT and Keep America Beautiful, as supplies last. Events can include litter cleanups, illegal dump cleanups, community greening and beautification, special collections and education events. Events must be registered at keeppabeautiful.org to receive free cleanup supplies.

As part of this event, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association are sponsoring trash disposal, free of charge or at a reduced rate for registered program participants, at participating landfills from April 1 through April 30, with prior approval.

Want to fight dirty in your community but not sure where to start? Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is hosting a community wide cleanup training webinar on Monday, February 26 from noon -1 pm. The training will include technical support for organizing a community-wide cleanup by mobilizing local volunteers, gaining support from local business, coordinating trash disposal, accessing supplies and more! A link will be posted closer to the date of the webinar at keeppabeautfiul.org, choose Programs, then Pick Up PA.

The webinar is geared towards municipalities, but individuals and organizations interested in organizing a cleanup may also attend.

“It’s very easy to see the consequences that littering has on the environment as we drive the highways and back roads of Pennsylvania. Litter impacts our quality of life, the natural environment and economic development in communities all across Pennsylvania. There are over 500 million pieces of litter on Pennsylvania’s roadways. So, as the snow melts and exposes all that litter, we hope everyone will get out there and fight dirty in their communities. You can participate in Pick Up Pennsylvania by grabbing a bag or container and collect litter from the side of the road, your local park, sidewalks and trails. Let’s fight dirty together and make a difference”, said Michelle Dunn, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Pick Up Pennsylvania Coordinator.

Individuals, friends, family and groups large and small can help clean up vacant lots, streets and riverbanks, plant gardens and trees or mulch a local playground. To host an event, join an event near you or to inquire about free supplies and trash disposal, visit keeppabeautiful.org, choose Programs, then Pick Up PA or contact Michelle Dunn, Pick Up Pennsylvania Program Coordinator, at 724-836-4121 ext. 113 or mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.

Last year from March through May, 56,820 people participated in Pick Up Pennsylvania. Over 2.4 million pounds of trash and recyclables were picked up and over 5,500 trees, flowers and other greens were planted.

Current 2024 Pick Up Pennsylvania supporters include: Columbia Gas – NiSource Charitable Foundation, Marathon, Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association,The GIANT Company, PA Food Merchants Association, Wegmans, Down2Earth Interior Designs and Vistra Energy – Luminant. If you are interested in becoming a supporter contact Deb Woolley at dwoolley@keepppabeautiful.org.

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About Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s vision is a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania. Since 1990, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has worked with hundreds of thousands of volunteers across the state to pick up nearly 155 million pounds of trash from Pennsylvania’s roadways, waterways, greenways, vacant lots, forestlands and other community spaces. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s core programming focuses on litter and illegal dump prevention, cleanup, community greening, and proper waste handling and sustainable practices. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful works with many partnering organizations on the state and grassroots level to accomplish our goal of a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is the state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., the nation’s largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. To learn more about Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, visit www.keeppabeautiful.org.

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