Friday, November 8, 2024

Schuylkill Keep It Pretty Joins Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful as Official County Affiliate

Schuylkill Keep It Pretty (SKIP) has become the newest county affiliate of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. 

Schuylkill Keep It Pretty is supported by the Schuylkill County Commissioners and is in partnership with the Schuylkill Office of Solid Waste & Recycling.

To achieve this milestone, SKIP completed the Community Assessment process set by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, which evaluates key areas essential to effective litter prevention and community improvement. This assessment gathered data on residents’ attitudes toward litter, existing prevention programs, waste and recycling policies, community leaders in beautification, and active volunteer groups. These insights will help shape a plan focused on changing attitudes and behaviors around litter, recycling, and community beautification in Schuylkill County.

In its new role, SKIP plans to organize county-wide cleanups, support recycling events, and promote environmental education for local communities and youth. The group will also implement statewide programs like the Pennsylvania Adopt-a-Highway initiative.

"Schuylkill Keep It Pretty is dedicated to cleaning up litter and educating communities on litter prevention, solid waste management, recycling, and waste reduction," said Mandy Fitzpatrick, SKIP Chair. "Our goal is to create a better Schuylkill County for everyone to live, learn, work, and visit."

SKIP’s plan for the next three years includes enlisting local environmental stewards, fostering partnerships with public, private, and civic entities, and increasing volunteer engagement. By building a broad-based support network, SKIP hopes to expand its reach and encourage sustainable community improvements that start at the individual level.

The organization has announced a community cleanup along Tuscarora Mountain Road on November 16. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact SKIP at skiplitter@gmail.com or 570-628-1220 for details.

“Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is delighted to welcome Schuylkill Keep It Pretty to our network,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “We are grateful to the Schuylkill County Commissioners and the Office of Solid Waste & Recycling for supporting SKIP. Together, we look forward to enhancing existing initiatives and expanding SKIP’s impact.”

Through its efforts, SKIP aims to create a cleaner, greener future for Schuylkill County residents and visitors alike.