‘PA Fights Dirty’: State launches anti-litter campaign
news@greenecountymessenger.com
Take a drive along one of Pennsylvania无毛视频檚 roadways, or walk outside a stadium or ball park following an event, and it无毛视频檚 likely you无毛视频檒l see trash 无毛视频� plastic bottles, fast-food bags, cigarette butts, beer cans, and much more.
There is a lot of litter on Pennsylvania无毛视频檚 roadways 无毛视频� an estimated 500 million pieces, according to research by the state无毛视频檚 Department of Environment Protection, Department of Transportation and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
It无毛视频檚 a problem the commonwealth aims to solve.
The Wolf administration recently joined representatives from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to announce the launch of the statewide anti-litter campaign, 无毛视频淧A Fights Dirty: Every Litter Bit Matters.无毛视频�
The campaign calls upon Pennsylvanians to be responsible that every piece of their trash, regardless of size, is disposed of properly.
The campaign is based on research that shows only 3% of Pennsylvanians approve of littering, but 40 to 50% litters.
The goal of 无毛视频淓very Litter Bit Matters无毛视频� is to educate Pennsylvanians on situational littering, such as leaving trash on the ground next to a full can or in a stadium, and to remind Pennsylvanians that litter of all sizes stacks up and creates problems.
无毛视频淟itter isn无毛视频檛 just ugly to look at. It can cause environmental contamination and put public health at risk,无毛视频� said Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh. 无毛视频淟itter can leach chemicals into our land and water, and act as breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus.无毛视频�
PA Fights Dirty was developed as part of the Wolf administration无毛视频檚 Litter Action Plan and in response to the 2019 Pennsylvania Litter Research Study, which found Pennsylvania has approximately 502.5 million pieces of litter on its roadways.
More than 85% of these pieces are less than four inches in size. 无毛视频淓very Litter Bit Matters无毛视频� encourages Pennsylvanians to properly dispose of even their smallest pieces of trash.
Cleaning up isn无毛视频檛 just about protecting health and improving aesthetics and pride.
The cost to clean up is high, an estimated $350 million each year.
无毛视频淎s we work hand-in-hand with local community leaders, they frequently mention the challenges they face with litter 无毛视频� a challenge that impacts property values, business attraction, quality of life, health, and so much more,无毛视频� said state Department of Community and Economic Development Acting Secretary Neil Weaver. 无毛视频淏y preventing littering from occurring, we are saving communities valuable time and money in litter removal.无毛视频�
Cecil Township Manager Don Gennuso said any efforts to tackle the state无毛视频檚 litter program, including 无毛视频淧A Fights Dirty,无毛视频� is welcome.
无毛视频淚t is very important to address that problem; it无毛视频檚 something our public works employees have to deal with,无毛视频� said Gennuso. 无毛视频淎ny program that would address (litter) is a positive.无毛视频�
Pennsylvania State Police also discussed their efforts to enforce litter laws.
From Jan. 1 through June 30, state police issued 661 citations and 562 warnings in enforcing anti-littering laws.
无毛视频淭he Pennsylvania State Police is committed to keeping Pennsylvania beautiful by enforcing the state无毛视频檚 litter laws,无毛视频� said Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Robert Evanchick. 无毛视频淟ittering is 100% preventable with fines beginning at $300. The public is encouraged to report any litter violation they witness by contacting their local law enforcement agency.无毛视频�
The event also featured the state无毛视频檚 Young Ambassadors Program, a new partnership with PennDOT and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. The program 无毛视频� which is now accepting applications 无毛视频� was recommended in the Litter Action Plan and encourages Pennsylvania rising 10th- through 12th-grade students to help keep the commonwealth clean.
无毛视频淲e are honored to offer the Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania Program in partnership with PennDOT. We know the students of today hold the key to a sustainable future,无毛视频� said Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful President Shannon Reiter.
The students 无毛视频� chosen through a competitive process 无毛视频� will commit to nine months of service in representing and upholding the mission and values of KPB, and will have other responsibilities, including participating in at least one community cleanup event through Pick Up Pennsylvania and conducting one community education event targeting youth in the student无毛视频檚 community.
More information and the application for the Young Ambassadors Program can be found on the KPB website.