VOLUNTEERS CLEAN UP AN ILLEGAL DUMPSITE ON THE TRAIL IN TAYLOR
Volunteers gather by the large pile of debris that recently was cleaned up from
an illegal dumpsite on the Taylor section of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail.
On November 5, 2011, 35 volunteers cleaned up a large illegal dumpsite on the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. The site was located in the Borough of Taylor, approximately one-half mile east of the trailhead at Depot Street. The Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area (LHV) and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) co-hosted the event.
In early summer, trail users noticed a large pile of discarded household items, tires, and building materials that had been dumped next to the trail. The illegal dumping continued through the summer, and the pile became a safety and health hazard as it grew larger. PEC received a Solid Waste Management Grant from the USDA Rural Development to clean up illegal dumpsites in communities throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. USDA State Director Thomas Williams visited the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail in Taylor on October 28th to recognize the dumpsite on LHV’s trail as the first clean-up effort funded by this grant. He lauded the efforts of PEC and LHV to reclaim the site in preparation for development of that trail section in 2012.
The clean-up crew included a student from Scranton High School, members of the NEPA Trail Mix group from Meetup.com, staff members from WNEP-TV, a number of local citizens, staff from the Lackawanna County Conservation District, as well as staff members from LHV and PEC. Special thanks go to the New Lost Trails ATV Park from Dunmore, PA, who provided trucks, trailers, and a quad to help the volunteers move the debris from the pile to the dumpster at the trailhead. Although the pile was substantial, the many willing hands completely removed it in less than two hours!
For More Information
Owen Worozbyt
Volunteer Coordinator
(570) 936-6730 x 8212
oworozbyt@LHVA.org
|
