Allegheny CleanWays

Assessment

The cataloging of illegal dump sites is directed by PA CleanWays with local support provided by Allegheny CleanWays. PA CleanWays aims to have the entire state surveyed for illegal dumps by 2010. Assessments only address "third party" dump sites along public rights of way, not along off road areas or dumps on private property by the landowner.

Illegal Dump Cleanups

Allegheny CleanWays works with local residents, organizations, businesses, and governments to remove debris dumped within the County.

• Tireless Project. This program is a collaborative endeavor of several organizations with a common interest in the waterways of Pittsburgh. The Tireless Project was launched in 2002 by the Three Rivers Rowing Association in partnership with Nat Stone, a free-lance writer and rower who was horrified by the enormous volume of tires along the city's riverbanks when he rowed through on his adventure from New York City to New Orleans. Since its beginnings, more than 1900 volunteers have extracted more than 2000 tires, 117 tons of debris and 301 bags of recyclables from the rivers' shores.
• Dump Busters.  Developed with one of our volunteers in response to the large number of dump sites identified through the 2009 City of Pittsburgh Illegal Dump Survey, this is a year-round program to combat illegal dumping in Allegheny County.  A small group of volunteers (anywhere from 1-5 people) go our every weekday to chip away at dump sites.  While they focus primarily on small dump sites that are easily eliminated by a small group, Dump Busters also assist communities in cleaning up larger sites and are "on call" to respond to new dumping incidents.
• Greenways Cleanups.  Greenways are designated green spaces that have been adopted by local organizations as stewards.  Because of their remote character areas that were designated as greenways are likely to have been historic dumping sites. Allegheny CleanWays continues to work with state organizations and agencies and local residents and organizations to remove the debris and work to restore the health of the areas as community green spaces.

Community Support & Litter Abatement

Allegheny CleanWays provides training and equipment to community groups trying to fight litter in their neighborhood. Cleanup Coordinator Workshops provide valuable details on how to plan and implement a community cleanup. Allegheny CleanWays serves as a distributor for PennDOT of gloves, bags, and safety vests needed to get the job done.

• Partners Against Littered Streets (PALS) is a program through which Allegheny CleanWays provides kits of materials to community groups for frequent light litter cleanups. Kits contain safety vests printed with the PALS insignia as well as several types of cleaning equipment.
• Site Adoption.  Sites that have been adopted under the PA CleanWays adoption program must be cleaned twice a year.  Allegheny CleanWays offers equipment and technical support to the organizations who are stewarding adopted sites.

Education & Prevention

Littering and illegal dumping won’t stop just because people clean up the debris. It must be stopped at the source. Allegheny CleanWays conducts outreach and education programs and is initiating a variety of programs designed to further help prevent these crimes from happening.

• Litter IQ Board.  The Litter I.Q. Board is an interactive electronic display that creates litter awareness while educating the user about the life expectancy of discarded items. The board displays 12 common litter items and lists 11 possible decomposition times, ranging from “up to 2 years” to “indefinitely.” The challenge is to match the item with the correct decomposition time. When the correct match is made, a buzzer sounds. 
• Recycling IQ Board.  The Recycling I.Q. Board is a fun, interactive, educational tool that allows the participant to match items that would be thrown away to items that can be made from the materials if they are properly recycled. When a correct match is made, a buzzer sounds, and the arrows, representing the recycling symbol, light up and spin around. 
• Educational Materials.  As an affiliate of PA CleanWays, we can provide educational materials for groups looking for environmentally-based curriculum and teaching guides for children and teens.