Williamsport, Pa. — Throughout Earth Month this May, volunteers across the region collected more than 40,000 pounds of litter from area parks, trails, and communities across the Susquehanna River.
The 2024 Susquehanna Greenway Cleanup Month attracted over 950 volunteers this year.
Events organized and led by local groups and organizations were held in the communities of Sayre, Falls, Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Jersey Shore, Newberry, Williamsport, South Williamsport, Montgomery, Milton, Lewisburg, Selinsgrove, Sunbury, Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg, Wormleysburg, Steelton, & Hellam.
“What started as a single-town cleanup in 2018 has since grown to a month-long initiative that ties together communities all along the Susquehanna River,” explains SGP Executive Director Leslie Warriner. “In its 6th year, we are just thrilled to see the enthusiasm of these amazing partners, community groups, non-profits, and volunteers so committed to making the Susquehanna Greenway a better place to live, work, and explore.”
The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership (SGP) supports cleanup efforts and events in a variety of ways depending on the experience and needs of the event host. Assistance includes convening the interested parties, providing promotional assistance, sharing resources for event planning and organization, answering questions and offering support for litter disposal, soliciting volunteers, identifying locations and coordinating with site owners, hosting groups, and securing no-cost cleanup materials such as bags, gloves, and safety vests.
These supplies were acquired through the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful initiative, which offers registered events free materials via a collaborative partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT, and Keep America Beautiful Program.
The astounding results, organized by community, are as follows:
Sayre: Six volunteers led by Futurescapes cleaned up 66 pounds of trash along the Diahoga Trail between Athens & Sayre.
Falls: Endless Mountains Heritage Region & Susquehanna Kayak & Canoe Rentals led 10 volunteers on a pick-up paddle, removing 165 pounds of trash from the Susquehanna River’s North Branch.
Bloomsburg: Eight volunteers cleared280 pounds of trash from along Fort McClure Boulevard during a cleanup facilitated by the Town of Bloomsburg.
Lock Haven: Downtown Lock Haven saw five volunteers clear 75 pounds of trash from the community.
Jersey Shore: 52 volunteers from the Jersey Shore High School Outdoor Club picked up 350 pounds of trash from several locations throughout the community. Additionally, the Borough of Jersey Shore led 10 volunteers who picked up another 250 pounds of litter.
Newberry: 35 volunteers led by the Newberry Community Partnership cleaned up 281 pounds of litter and 71 pounds of recyclables from the Newberry neighborhood within Williamsport.
Williamsport: 18 volunteers from Lycoming College and the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership staff and board of directors collectively gathered 300 pounds of trash from along the Susquehanna River Walk.
South Williamsport: Lycoming Audubon and Robert Porter Allen Natural Area together had 13 volunteers clear 240 pounds of litter along the river frontage of the Robert Porter Allen Natural Area.
Montgomery: 11 volunteers from Montgomery Borough cleaned up 740 pounds of litter from Montgomery Park.
Milton: Four volunteers, plus Susquehanna Greenway Partnership staff, cleared 560 pounds of trash from Milton State Park.
Lewisburg: 15 volunteers with Lewisburg Neighborhoods cleaned up 300 pounds of trash from Hufnagle Park and the Bull Run Neighborhood, and 35 volunteers completed spring trail maintenance along the Dale’s Ridge Trail with the Merrill W. Linn Land & Waterways Conservancy including the removal of invasive species.
Selinsgrove: Six volunteers of the Isle of Que Krew led a cleanup along the Isle of Que, collecting 350 pounds of trash. Additionally, 80 volunteers from Susquehanna University collected 1,200 pounds of litter throughout the month. An Earth Day Celebration was also held by Citizen's Climate Lobby at East Snyder Park.
Sunbury: 175 volunteers led by the Susquehanna River Cleanup Project cleared 6,500 pounds of litter, 3,300 pounds of tires, and a trailer full of metal debris. The Little Shamokin Creek Watershed Association led 50 volunteers on a cleanup of the creek, tributaries, and roads, collecting 1,840 pounds of trash. Sunbury Old Towne Neighborhood, a committee of Sunbury's Revitalization, Inc. saw three volunteers clear 120 pounds of trash from downtown Sunbury along Market Street.
Harrisburg: 425 volunteers led by Tri County Community Action collected five tons (10,000 pounds) of trash from the Harrisburg area, and properly disposed of an additional six tons of discarded tires.
Wormleysburg: 15 volunteers cleanup up Front Street in the Borough of Wormleysburg, collecting 450 pounds of trash.
Mechanicsburg: 13 volunteers gathered 150 pounds of litter along Lamb’s Gap Road and planted 25 trees.
Steelton: Steelton Borough's Clean Streets, Happy Feet & Community Garden Cleanup event led 17 volunteers who collected 1,320 pounds of trash.
Hellam: Susquehanna Riverlands State Park led a cleanup of Codorus Creek with three volunteers collecting 300 pounds of litter.
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