Initiatives will involve cleanups, including Brandywine Creek

HARRISBURG — The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) wants to  remind residents that April is Earth Month. The theme for Earth Month is “Pick it up PA,” encouraging residents to take time to pick up litter around their homes and in public areas.

“I believe we can make Pennsylvania a better place to live, work and play by taking the time to clean up litter around our homes, businesses and parks.” DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. “So gather together a group to help pick it up, PA.”

Secretary Abruzzo and other DEP staff will clean up the east shore of the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg between Market and Forster Streets on April 27, a DEP news release said.

DEP’s regional offices are also participating in cleanup events. Volunteers from DEP’s Southeast Region will participate in the Brandywine Valley Association’s canoe-based cleanup of the Brandywine Creek in Chester County on April 26. On April 22, staff from the South-central Regional Office will cleanup Asylum Run, a tributary that runs through the State Hospital grounds in Harrisburg, the release.

Many other cleanup events will be taking place across the state throughout the month, which also includes Earth Day,  an annual observance, held on April 22, to remind residents to do their part and take care of Pennsylvania’s air, land and water. DEP recommends that residents find a cleanup event in their area by checking out the Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania’s website at www.gacofpa.org. Residents also have the option to start their own cleanup event and list it on the website, the release said.

DEP provides annual support to the Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania to purchase gloves, trash bags and safety vests for cleanup volunteers. The funding is provided by DEP’s Solid Waste Abatement Fund.

Another online events resource is DEP’s interactive Earth Month calendar. Residents can use it to identify local Earth Month activities or to post their own events. DEP also plans to commemorate Earth Month by showcasing portions of the DEP at Home exhibit at the Phillies “Red Goes Green” day in Citizen’s Bank Park on April 17 and in the East Wing Rotunda of the State Capitol Building from April 21 to 25, the release said.

DEP at Home is an interactive, educational exhibit fashioned into a home structure that features practices and products promoting energy efficiency and environmentally beneficial products for the home. It was created through a grant provided by the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program.

In addition, DEP will announce the winners of the Environmental Education Grants and the Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence during April in honor of Earth Month. For more information about Earth Month, or to check out the virtual calendar, visit www.dep.state.pa.us and click on the Earth Month banner.