Groups and individuals are cleaning up shared public spaces through Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful's Pick Up Pennsylvania program, supporting the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup. The International Coastal Cleanup is an initiative to keep trash from reaching waterways and oceans.

Through Thursday, Nov. 30, while supplies last, volunteers will be provided free trash bags, gloves, and safety vests when they register a cleanup with Pick Up Pennsylvania. Both waterway and land-based cleanups are eligible for the program since a significant portion of waterway pollution originates on land. Wind and rain wash litter into storm drains or directly into creeks and rivers that eventually flow to the ocean, where it impacts marine life, human health, and coastal economies.

Events must be registered with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to receive the supplies, which will be provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT and the Ocean Conservancy. Members of the public may visit http://www.keeppabeautiful.org to join an existing cleanup event through the Calendar of Events or to register their own cleanup by clicking on Programs and then Pick Up PA.