PA CleanWays of Washington County was awarded a 1,500 grant from Keep America Beautiful through its Cigarette Litter Prevention Program.  With this funding, the chapter will purchase and install cigarette receptacles at various locations at Canonsburg Lake, which is in Peters Township and North Strabane Township.  They will also purchase hundreds of portable ashtrays to hand out to fisherman and other visitors to the lake.

 

HB 961 passed the Senate with a vote of 49-0.  The  bill was amended to extend the sunset date to 2020 and includes language that would dedicate $1.25 million for three years to waste tire remediation.  Unless the $2.00 per ton Recycling Fee Reauthorization (HB
961) is passed, funding and support for recycling programs in Pennsylvania will cease to exist.  HB 961 will extend the $2.00 per ton Recycling Fee to 2020.  Currently, the sunset date is January 1, 2012.
When announcing 902 Grants in early 2010, Governor Rendell stated, "I intend to work with the General Assembly to amend current statute to extend the recycling fee. Without an extension the funding for these grants will no longer be available and the program will effectively shut down." He also noted the significance of the recycling industry on the state's economy, noting, "Pennsylvania's recycling industry is directly responsible for more than 52,000 jobs with an annual payroll of $2 billion.  It also generates $20 billion in gross receipts."
The Recycling Fee Reauthorization affects more than the 52,000 individuals who work in that industry, it also affects every Pennsylvanian and every Business that recycles within our Commonwealth.

 

 

Help for Direct Costs Associated with Cleanups

Clean and Green funding is available to all chapters. Each chapter can apply for direct costs associated with PA CleanWays programming. Contact Sharon Bungard at 724-836-4121 ext. 105 or sbungard@pacleanways.org to discuss funding prior to submitting your application. Click here for an application.

River Sweep is Saturday, June 19th! River Sweep, organized by the Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission, is a cleanup of the Ohio River and its tributaries. For participation information contact Betsy Mallison at 412-735-1258 or bmallison@talismanusa.com.

 

Litter Hawk Youth Award Program Winners          
Age Group 11-18
Visual Arts: Christian Long, age 15, from Blue Mountain High School in Schuylkill County and an active member of the school's "Green Club" designed and developed a "Recycling Depot". The purpose of Christian's work, which is on display at the high school, is to increase awareness of items that can and can not be recycled. 
 
Language Arts: Hannah McClendon, age 12, from Canonsburg Middle School in Washington County wrote a poem about recycling entitled, "What Can We Do?". Hannah illustrates the effect that humans have on the environment and makes suggestions to reduce our footprint. 
 
Community Outreach: Ashley Funk, age 15, from Mount Pleasant Area High School in Westmoreland County formed Pollution Patrol, a student run club that is dedicated to helping to clean the local environment. With the support of Mount Pleasant Borough, Ashley and Pollution Patrol have coordinated cleanup days and electronics recycling events in the borough. The group has established a recycling program in Mount Pleasant Area High School and has promoted recycling in the community. Ashley's hope is to involve students from neighboring high schools so the group can begin cleaning other communities in Westmoreland County. 
 
Age group 10 and Under
Visual Arts/Language Arts Category: Students from Fishing Creek Elementary School in York County collectively won for their projects that carried an inspirational theme and message. Each student submitted either a poem, play, or poster design with messages encouraging recycling, proper disposal, beautification, and the prevention of litter.   
 
(No entries were received in the community outreach category in the 10 and under age group) 
 
Entries were judged on creativity, the project's ability to convey the chosen subject, and steps taken to educate the public. Winners in the 10 and under age group received a gift card in the amount of $75, while winners in the 11-18 age group received a gift card in the amount of $100. They were encouraged to use the gift cards in a manner that would enhance their environmental knowledge.