Senator Mario Scavello Helps Launch “Pick up the Poconos” Litter Initiative
From Senator Scavello's Newsletter - 1 June 2018, Tannersville, PA
On Wednesday, I joined Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau CEO Chris Barrett and Monroe County Commissioner Charlie Garris to announce a new litter initiative in the Pocono Mountains.
Efforts have been underway for almost a year to address the problem of litter on area roadways and specifically Interstate 80. While our efforts were initially focused on developing a program for inmates to pick litter on area highways, we encountered resistance due to the high cost and liability of administering such a program. That is when Chris Barrett stepped forward with another solution.
The Visitors Bureau announced they have entered into an agreement with Adopt a Highway Maintenance Corporation to pick up litter along the first 20 miles of Interstate 80 from Delaware Water Gap to State Route 380 in Tobyhanna. The company will pick up I-80 four times a year and the cost will be covered entirely by the existing hotel tax.
Trash pick-up along I-80 is just part of a new program started by the Visitors Bureau titled “Pick up the Poconos.” The first step is to raise awareness through a media campaign. We have a trash problem and want to dispose of trash properly. The Bureau is also working with PennDOT to broadcast the many secondary routes in need of cleanup through their Adopt-A-Highway program.The Visitors Bureau hopes to eventually expand their contract with Adopt a Highway Maintenance Company to cover litter pickup on other highways in the region. Residents who wish to learn more about these litter efforts can visit www.pickupthepoconos.com<http:
The efforts to combat litter align directly with a bill I proposed, Senate Bill 431<http://www.legis.state.pa.
On Wednesday, I joined Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau CEO Chris Barrett and Monroe County Commissioner Charlie Garris to announce a new litter initiative in the Pocono Mountains.
Efforts have been underway for almost a year to address the problem of litter on area roadways and specifically Interstate 80. While our efforts were initially focused on developing a program for inmates to pick litter on area highways, we encountered resistance due to the high cost and liability of administering such a program. That is when Chris Barrett stepped forward with another solution.
The Visitors Bureau announced they have entered into an agreement with Adopt a Highway Maintenance Corporation to pick up litter along the first 20 miles of Interstate 80 from Delaware Water Gap to State Route 380 in Tobyhanna. The company will pick up I-80 four times a year and the cost will be covered entirely by the existing hotel tax.
Trash pick-up along I-80 is just part of a new program started by the Visitors Bureau titled “Pick up the Poconos.” The first step is to raise awareness through a media campaign. We have a trash problem and want to dispose of trash properly. The Bureau is also working with PennDOT to broadcast the many secondary routes in need of cleanup through their Adopt-A-Highway program.The Visitors Bureau hopes to eventually expand their contract with Adopt a Highway Maintenance Company to cover litter pickup on other highways in the region. Residents who wish to learn more about these litter efforts can visit www.pickupthepoconos.com<http:
The efforts to combat litter align directly with a bill I proposed, Senate Bill 431<http://www.legis.state.pa.
This article is reprinted from the newsletter of Senator Mario Scavello - with permission. More information on the Senator is available at the website: http://www.senatorscavello.com/
photo by Tom Johnson-Medland
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