Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has announced its new anti-littering campaign, developed as part of the Wolf administration's Litter Action Plan and in response to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful's 2019 Pennsylvania Litter Research Study. The campaign, "PA Fights Dirty: Every Litter Bit Matters," encourages community members to clean up litter, whether by picking up litter in their neighborhood or organizing a larger cleanup of a public space.

Additionally, to prevent litter from ending up in waterways, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful invites residents of the commonwealth to participate in Pick Up Pennsylvania in support of the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup. The annual event is an opportunity to improve neighborhoods and Pennsylvania's waterways by coordinating or participating in a litter cleanup.

In addition to waterway cleanups, land-based cleanups are also eligible since a significant portion of waterway pollution originates on land. Wind and rain carry litter into storm drains or directly into creeks and rivers that eventually flow to the ocean where it has a negative effect on marine life, human health, and coastal economies.

Through Wednesday, Nov. 30, participants who have registered for Pick Up Pennsylvania can receive free trash bags, gloves, and safety vests provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT, and the Ocean Conservancy, while supplies last. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful suggests following all applicable federal, state, and local health and safety rules for COVID-19 in effect at the time of the event.

To register a cleanup or community improvement event, visit http://www.keeppabeautiful.org/programs/pick-up-pa/. For more information, contact Michelle Dunn at 877-772-3673, ext. 113, or mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org. To become a supporter of the 2023 Pick Up Pennsylvania program, contact Deb Woolley at dwoolley@keeppabeautiful.org.