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Rural
Cleanups and Trainings
One of the true
attributes of Pennsylvania is our rural areas. It is in rural
areas that we can enjoy summer hikes, fall drives to admire
foliage, and cross country skiing in the winter. Pennsylvania
residents and visitors can go white water rafting, rock climbing,
and bird watching. It is these kinds of activities that a
person can feel one with nature.
Unfortunately, illegal dumping
in rural areas can be a detriment to the states beauty,
environment, and wildlife. As rural areas have a small tax-base,
most rural townships and municipalities do not have the
funds to support a mandatory curbside trash program. Thus,
constituents have to take their trash to a landfill and
pay for disposal. This task can be costly and time consuming,
so many forgo properly disposing their trash and instead
illegally dump their waste.
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In
2008, PA CleanWays received funding from the Utilities
Programs, United States Department of Agriculture, to
help combat illegal dumping in rural areas. PA CleanWays
will target rural municipalities in Bedford, Columbia,
Elk, Fayette, Forest, Fulton, McKean, Northumberland,
Somerset, and Warren Counties to provide cleanup trainings
and educational materials to community leaders and partnering
organizations. |
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on-the-ground trainings will give groups the tools and
resources they need to be able to address the problem
within their own community long after the training and
education programs are complete. Following the trainings,
PA CleanWays will provide technical assistance to participants
regarding cleanups and other recycling and solid waste
issues. |
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CleanWays has found that the key to long lasting success
is local involvement. This program will empower community
members to be a part of the solution and begin to restore
not only the natural environment but also community
pride. In addition, cleanups will increase awareness
regarding the problem of dumping and its consequences
as they relate to watersheds in each of the counties,
preventing future dumping and increasing the likelihood
that cleaned areas will stay clean. |
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08/09
Cleanups
Click on a cleanup name to
view detailed information about each cleanup.
You
will need the free program Adobe Acrobat Reader to download
and view these forms.
Click here to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
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