Pick Up PA

 
Want to fight dirty in your community,
but not sure where to start?

Watch our recorded webinar to learn about
hosting a community cleanup,
choosing an event location,
organizing and mobilizing volunteers,
coordinating trash disposal,
navigating our website and more!

Click to view the 2024 webinar recording.

Download the slideshow. (.pdf)

 

Every Litter Bit Matters when it comes to keeping Pennsylvania clean, and it’s up to all of us to do our part. By working together to Fight Dirty, everyone in Pennsylvania can live, work, and play in a clean and green community.

One little way to Fight Dirty is to register an event for Pick Up Pennsylvania:

  • March 1st through May 31st.  Our spring event in support of The Great American Cleanup is eligible for FREE work gloves, safety vests, and trash bags as supplies last.  Donated landfill space for trash collected during the cleanup is also available for free or reduced cost between April 1st through April 30th.
  • June 1st through August 31st.  Events can be registered in the summer but are not eligible for free supplies at this time.  Please also be aware of the additional safety concerns for summer events in PA like ticks, snakes, vegetation, and poison ivy.
  • September 1st through November 30th.   Our fall event in support of The International Coastal Cleanup is eligible for FREE work gloves, safety vests, and trash bags as supplies last.  There is no donated landfill space for the fall event.
  • December 1st through February 28th.  Events can be registered in the winter but are not eligible for free supplies at this time.  Please also be aware of the additional safety concerns for winter events in PA.

All program registrations will receive an e-mail with detailed instructions for supplies and resources, safety information, and a link to report on each event.

Safety reminders:

  • Be aware of private property, and get permission from landowners before going on their land.
  • Roadside litter can be dangerous. Do not open coolers, jugs, bottles and other sealed containers.
  • Make sure you wear gloves, appropriate clothing, and safety gear.
  • Report any suspicious or dangerous items to police immediately.
  • Make sure children are not left unattended near highways or water.
  • For volunteer safety, please inform your volunteers prior to your cleanup what remnants of a meth lab or a “One Pot” meth lab might contain. Download the “Meth Labs: A Recipe for Disaster” pdf file here.
  • Warmer temperatures also mean more ticks in PA.  The PA Department of Health offers good info about Lyme Disease and tick prevention/removal.
  • Please be aware that some lands may be open for hunting or trapping even on some Sundays. For current seasons and dates for your cleanup location, visit the PA Game Commission for the most up-to-date info.

When reporting your results, don’t forget to upload a few pictures of you Fighting Dirty at your event, so we can share them on our Facebook page or our Flickr page.


Program participants have done amazing work in 2023! Here are the 2023 Pick Up Pennsylvania stats:

  • 4,159 Events
  • 71,042 Invaluable Volunteers
  • 180,736,880 Pounds of Materials Recycled
  • 2,927,200 Pounds of Trash Disposed
  • 8,169 Miles of Roads, Shorelines and Trails Cleaned
  • 8,260 Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers Planted
  • 55,668 Tires Properly Disposed

Each year during Pick Up Pennsylvania, registered events can get free cleanup supplies such as bags, gloves and vests donated by PennDOT, the Department of Environmental Protection, and Keep America Beautiful.

Community and civic associations, schools and youth groups, families and friends, business employees, hunting and fishing clubs, conservation organizations, sports teams, and others can organize their members and participate in Pick Up Pennsylvania.

Ready to Fight Dirty?