The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) is proud to report the completion of the 2009 Community Illegal Dumpsite Program. This program resulted in the cleanup of 28 Illegal Dumpsites through volunteer and contractor efforts. A total of 180 tons of trash; 46 tons of scrap metal and 27 tons of tires were removed from the environment throughout Luzerne, Northumberland and Wyoming Counties. A total of 332 volunteers donated a total of 1600 hours by participating in the cleanup activities. Contractors were retained to cleanup 6 of the 28 sites due to the steepness of the terrain.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council received funding and sponsorships to conduct the cleanup activities from the Earth Conservancy, J.P. Mascaro & Sons, Keystone Sanitary Landfill, Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, Pennsylvania American Water Company, Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, United States Department of Agriculture and Waste Management/Alliance Landfill.

Pennsylvania American Water Company has generously made a donation to the 2010 Community Illegal Dumpsite Program and will present a check in the amount of $4,000.00 to the Pennsylvania Environmental Council at 11:00 am on Tuesday February 16th, 2010 at 30 Center Street, Hughestown - adjacent to the Hughestown Fire Department. This is a site where a 2009 cleanup was held.

If you can attend the press conference, please notify Julie McMonagle, PEC Vice President at 570-718-6507.

PEC can provide photographs of each site before, during and after the cleanup activities were conducted. If you are interested in obtaining any photographs please contact me via email.