|
Great Lakes
Article:
Pennsylvania Cleans
Up Illegal Dumps
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, August 16, 2002 (ENS) -
Illegal dumps are nothing new in Pennsylvania - for decades,
landowners have found junked cars and other debris abandoned
on farms and woodlots, dumped by people who chose to avoid
fees for legal disposal.
The problem still exists, and now, the state is taking
steps to clean up illegal dumps - at least on public lands.
This week, the state announced the removal of more than
53 tons of debris from an illegal dumpsite in Tioga State
Forest.
State contractors hauled away 52 tons of concrete and
asphalt and 1.4 tons of trash, appliances and 19 tires
from an illegal dumpsite along a Route 6 pull off between
Gaines and Galeton. The site was on a slope above Pine
Creek. Phoenix Resources/Waste Management of Wellsboro
donated the disposal cost for the concrete and asphalt.
The cleanup was part of the state's Forest Lands Beautification
Program. The Forest Lands Beautification Act provides
up to $7.5 million over five years to clean up existing
dumps on state forest and park lands by recycling or disposing
of waste materials. The program is administered by the
Department of Environmental Protection and the Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).
DCNR works in partnership with PA CleanWays, a nonprofit
organization, to identify dumpsites and to form community
volunteer teams to help remove the waste.
About 225 illegal dumpsites have been identified throughout
Pennsylvania. To date, 114 sites have been cleaned up
through the efforts of more than 1,150 volunteers. These
cleanups have resulted in the removal of more than 1,850
tons of debris - including more than 6,200 tires, 80 tons
of scrap metal, construction materials, household trash,
furniture and more.
The Forest Lands Beautification Program also seeks to
educate citizens about proper methods of waste disposal.
The program's website includes a link to "Earth's 911,"
a public private partnership providing a national database
of recycling information. Users can enter their zip codes
to obtain a listing of local curbside or drop off recycling
programs, solid waste disposal locations, yard waste composting
sites and household hazardous waste disposal sites.
The database includes the names and locations of facilities,
phone numbers, hours of operation, and any restrictions
pertaining to the acceptance of waste.
To join a cleanup team or for more information, call
the Forest Lands Beautification Program toll free at:
1-877-7PA FOREST (1-877-772-3673) or visit the program
website at: http://www.CleanPAForests.org
|
