According to a Press Release, Roads, rivers, trails, parks and private communities throughout the Pocono Mountains look much cleaner this week following the “Pick Up the Poconos” Spring Cleanup held this past Saturday, April 23, in honor of Earth Day.
670 volunteers fanned out across 37 locations and covered 109 miles of roadway in the four-county region, collecting 1,463 bags of trash. This cleanup, organized bi-annually by the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau (PMVB), has resulted in a record number of volunteers and bags collected.
In addition to the individuals and families who graciously participate, the event’s continued success is largely credited to the dozens of private groups, businesses, and schools that organize cleanups in conjunction with Pick Up the Poconos (see below).
The PMVB’s overall Pick Up the Poconos campaign has resulted in at least 20,741 bags of trash being picked up and properly disposed of over the last six years, utilizing Hotel Occupancy Tax funding, which is collected from guests who stay overnight in the Poconos. The campaign includes:
- Pocono 3C: Unique partnership that employs individuals who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, to clean roads on a weekly basis throughout Monroe County. Since 2019, the program has helped more than 25 individuals obtain housing, a vehicle, and/or permanent job. Learn more here.
- Adopt-A-Highway Litter Removal Service of America, Inc: The PMVB contracts with the company to clean Interstates 80 & 380, Route 33, and highway entrance/exit ramps at least six times a year. Crews were out as recently as last week.
- Pick Up the Poconos: Bi-annual, volunteer-led cleanups throughout the four-county region held in the spring and fall. The event began in Monroe County in September 2018 and has since expanded into a region-wide effort that includes a second cleanup in April.
“We know keeping the Poconos clean and green takes more than just one or two litter pickups a year. That’s why we have invested significant funding, time, and resources into a variety of efforts,” said Chris Barrett, President/CEO of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. “There are many dedicated individuals, groups, organizations, and associations that pick litter regularly. We want to be an advocate and supporter of those efforts as well.”
Pick Up the Poconos is supported by key partners including Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Leave No Trace, Monroe County Municipal Waste Management Authority, PennDOT, Waste Management, and the participating boroughs/townships.
The PMVB will hold its next Pick Up the Poconos Day on Saturday, September 24. Stay tuned for more information on PickUpThePoconos.com.
High-resolution photos from the “Pick Up the Poconos” Spring Cleanup may be requested here, while b-roll from past cleanups is available for download here.
Nearly 20 private groups, businesses, and schools participated in the “Pick Up the Poconos” Spring Cleanup, including:
1,000 Feet of Street (Middle Smithfield Twp)
Newfoundland Rotary & Newfoundland Library
Arrowhead Lake Community Association
Penn Estates - Pick Up Crew (PEPUC)
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate
Tobyhanna Army Depot
Camelback Resort
Chipperfield Elementary
Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
East Stroudsburg Area School District
The French Manor Inn and Spa
East Stroudsburg University
Friends of Cherry Valley
Pleasant Valley School District
Keep Hawley-Honesdale Beautiful
Pocono Mountain School District
Lackawaxen River Trails
Wallenpaupack Area School District
The PMVB would also like to thank Pocono Organics for hosting the first-ever Earth Day Celebration following the “Pick Up the Poconos” Spring Cleanup, as well as Monroe County Municipal Waste Management Authority and Waste Management for sponsoring the event.
Pocono Mountains visitor information is available online at PoconoMountains.com or by phone at (570) 421-5791. Follow @PoconoTVNetwork on Twitter to stay current with up-to-date information. Established in 1934, the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit membership organization. The PMVB is the official destination marketing organization for the four counties of Wayne, Pike, Monroe, and Carbon in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
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