As the flowers bloom and the weather warms up, communities across Pennsylvania are coming together for an annual event that targets litter and illegal dumping in the Keystone state. The Pickup PA program, led by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (KPB), also takes off, complementing the nationwide Great American Cleanup with a localized focus. The collaborative efforts extend to Northeastern Pennsylvania, where the Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s affiliation with Keep America Beautiful and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful gives rise to Keep Northeastern Pennsylvania Beautiful. This initiative covers six counties in NEPA – Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Monroe, Susquehanna, and Wyoming counties – fostering a sense of community pride and environmental stewardship.

In the spirit of Eco-Friendly holidays like World Water Day, Earth Day, and Arbor Day, communities feel empowered to address illegal dumping in their parks, forests, and neighborhoods through various beautification initiatives. Crews are equipped with essential materials such as gloves, bags, and safety vests to ensure a safe and efficient operation, an effort that is supported by PennDOT, and almost 3,000,000 pounds of trash is disposed of across the state each year. Throughout the month of April, volunteers can also take advantage of free or reduced-cost landfill space for collected trash at designated facilities.

No matter the size or scope of your clean-up event, ensuring it is registered on KPB’s website opens up access to valuable resources and support. Don’t forget to spread the word on social media using the hashtags #PickUpPennsylvania and #PAFightsDirty to inspire others to join the movement towards a cleaner, greener Pennsylvania. Together, we can make a lasting impact on our communities and the environment we all share.

If you have any questions about organizing a community cleanup or you want to get involved with a scheduled event, contact Rachael at RStark@PECPA.org.

Featured image (top) courtesy of Pennsylvania Environmental Council.