Two groups will be hosting cleanups along the Schuylkill River during the annual Schuylkill Scrub this spring.
The Schuylkill Scrub is an event that takes place from March 1 to May 31 every year. The Schuylkill Action Network coordinates the initiative with many partners with the common goal to clean as many miles of road, streams and parkland in the Schuylkill watershed, according to the Schuylkill River National & State Heritage website at www.schuylkillriver.org.
The event encourages and supports cleanup events throughout the entire Schuylkill watershed from the headwaters in Schuylkill County down to its confluence with the Delaware River in Philadelphia.
Two groups more than 100 miles a part — state Department of Transportation’s Schuylkill County Maintenance District and Dave Brindley of Not in Philly —are recruiting locals to pick up litter that might otherwise wash into the river’s estuary. Both are hosting cleanup events throughout the entire Schuylkill Scrub campaign.
“I am organizing volunteers because our block has many children on it,” Brindley state in a press release issued Monday. “I hate the hopelessness that trash-strewn streets convey to them.”
Tom Davidock and others at the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary have helped to expand the Schuylkill Scrub since 2010. One way they have done this is by collaborating with like-minded group from local environmental advisory councils to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. Another way is offering prizes and support.
“Anyone who leads a cleanup can enter to win free prizes along the Schuylkill River, like a moonlight kayaking tour,” Davidock said. “They can also take advantage of free trash bags, gloves and vests donated by PennDOT. And free or discounted trash disposal is available for Pick It Up PA Days, from April 16 to May 9.”
Visit www.SchuylkillScrub.org to join or register a cleanup. Locals can use this website to suggest and find places in need of cleaning. For more information, please call Virginia Vassalotti of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary at 800-445-4935, ext. 121.