It's that time of year. The weather is breaking, and PennDOT is encouraging residents and organizations to volunteer to help keep the Commonwealth beautiful, before the Mountain Laurels begin to bloom.
Following a successful 2022 volunteering season resulting in more than 7,800 miles of adopted state-maintained roadways via the Adopt-a-Highway program with 4,300 participating groups and more than 105,400 registered volunteers, and nearly 3.5 million pounds of trash recovered through the Pick Up Pennsylvania initiative, PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are seeking the help of our communities to keep Pennsylvania beautiful as part of the "Pick Up Pennsylvania" spring litter campaign, now through May 31.
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful coordinates the statewide Pick Up Pennsylvania campaign each spring and fall. DEP will provide gloves, trash bags, and safety vests to be distributed by PennDOT. In addition, DEP and the Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association sponsor no-cost or low-cost trash disposal at participating landfills for registered events during the month of April.
Everyone is welcome to join a litter cleanup event in their community or start one of their own. Find more information at the Pick Up Pennsylvania web page. Pick Up Pennsylvania is part of PA Fights Dirty, a larger initiative coordinated by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development that focuses on both preventing and cleaning up litter. Learn more at the PA Fights Dirty website.
As in previous years, Pennsylvania roadways and other areas can be adopted by individuals or organized groups such as clubs, schools, churches, businesses, and families. To commemorate the contribution of volunteers, PennDOT will post signs along the roadway giving volunteers credit for their efforts. Adopt A Highway volunteers can expect to collect litter on a two-mile section of state highway at least twice a year.
Interested groups and individuals can sign up for the program by going online at www.adoptahighway.penndot.gov.