PA tops in trash cleanups

PENNSYLVANIA — Groups registering stream and roadside cleanup events for the Great American Cleanup of PA are 21 percent ahead of last year. 175,200 people took part in 2008 projects across the state, cleaning up 21,653 miles of roadways, 10,822 acres of park land, collecting 10.5 million pounds of trash and planting 10,077 trees, flowers and bulbs.

Five hundred and twenty-eight events are registered for 2009, and volunteers can dispose of collected materials at participating PA Waste Industries Association facilities. There is still time to register for the April 25 to May 9 cleanup event. Visit www.greatpacleanup.org for more information.

In other cleanups, the Adopt-a-Highway Program in Pennsylvania has had more miles adopted than any other state in the nation, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.