Registration Open for Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Pick Up Pennsylvania Community Improvement Initiative
(January 27, 2022) Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has announced that registration is open for the 2022 Pick Up Pennsylvania, a community improvement initiative. Register a community improvement event from March 1 through May 31 and receive free trash bags, gloves, and safety vests provided by support from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and PennDOT, as supplies last. Events can include litter cleanups, illegal dump cleanups, community greening and beautification, special collections and education events and 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.
“Cleaning up your neighborhood is one of the best investments you can make. Whether you have vacant lots plagued with debris, natural areas that experience illegal dumping or litter scattered and blown from other sources, any neighborhood can be lifted up by the positive action. We invite all Pennsylvanians – individuals, friends, family and organized groups to join us this spring to clean up vacant lots, streets and riverbanks, plant gardens and trees or mulch a local playground. Join us for Pick Up Pennsylvania and make a difference in your neighborhood,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
Litter negatively impacts the environment, waterways, property taxes, home values, tourism, businesses and the safety of neighborhoods. Cleaning up litter and making small improvements to our shared community spaces, like planting a tree or flowers or painting a community structure helps create safer, healthier and more livable neighborhoods.
Last year from March through May, 60,505 people participated in Pick Up Pennsylvania. Over 2.2 million pounds of trash was picked up and 102,155 trees, flowers and other greens were planted.
“We are so grateful to our sponsors and volunteers who support this program by getting their friends, family and colleagues involved in neighborhood improvements. We’re hoping even more people turn out for this years event. It’s amazing what can be accomplished in a few short hours,” said Reiter.
To host an event, join an event near you or to inquire about free supplies and trash disposal, visit keeppabeautiful.org or contact Michelle Dunn, Pick Up Pennsylvania Program Coordinator, at 877-772-3673 ext. 113 or mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful recommends following all federal, state and local health and safety guidelines for Novel Coronavirus (Covid 19) in effect at the time of the event, including masking and social distancing.
Current 2022 Pick Up Pennsylvania supporters include: The GIANT Company, GreenPrint, Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association, Coca-Cola, Mahantango Enterprises,Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., Vistra Energy, Giant Eagle and Republic Services.
If you are interested in becoming a supporter of the 2022 Pick Up Pennsylvania initiative contact Shannon Reiter at 724-836-4121 or sreiter@keeppabeautiful.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 148 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.
