PITTSBURGH, PA — State officials and environmental partners are urging Pennsylvanians to take part in a statewide cleanup campaign ahead of a major tourism year expected to bring more than 209 million visitors to the commonwealth.
What This Means for You
- Volunteers across Pennsylvania are encouraged to join local litter cleanup efforts through the Pick Up Pennsylvania initiative.
- The state expects more than 209 million visitors in 2026 tied to major events including the NFL Draft and America250 celebrations.
- Businesses and community groups can participate through programs such as Adopt-A-Highway and Sponsor-A-Highway.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday joined Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and the Pittsburgh Steelers to promote the 2026 Pick Up Pennsylvania campaign, a statewide volunteer effort to remove litter from roads, parks, waterways, and communities.
The campaign comes as Pennsylvania prepares for a year of major events, including the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, the PGA Championship, FIFA World Cup events, the MLB All-Star Series, and celebrations tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary.
“With the eyes of the world pointing at the Commonwealth, we are eternally grateful to our committed volunteers for helping us Pick Up PA,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “We are all stewards of our environment. I encourage everyone to get involved in Pick Up PA, and, if you own a business, consider sponsoring a roadway in the Commonwealth.”
Preparing for a Major Tourism Year
Officials estimate that more than 600,000 fans could attend the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh alone, part of a broader tourism season expected to bring over 209 million visitors to Pennsylvania.
Environmental leaders say reducing litter is important not only for appearances but also for environmental protection.
Litter can pollute streams and rivers with microplastics, harming fish, birds, and other wildlife and degrading water quality.
“One of the key parts of DEP’s mission is partnership, and it is thanks to tremendous partners like Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, PennDOT, Adopt-A-Highway sponsors, and so many others that we are fighting litter in Pennsylvania,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “Thanks to volunteers across the Commonwealth we are ready to keep Pennsylvania and America litter-free for the next 250 years.”
Volunteer Impact Across the State
Volunteer cleanup programs already play a significant role in maintaining Pennsylvania’s roadways and public spaces.
In 2025, more than 81,500 volunteers participated in Pick Up Pennsylvania, collecting over 4 million pounds of litter and trash. Volunteers also recycled 6.1 million pounds of materials and planted nearly 63,000 trees, flowers, and other greenery statewide.
PennDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway program also coordinated about 26,000 volunteers across 4,700 groups last year, resulting in more than 40,000 bags of trash collected along Pennsylvania roadways.
How Businesses and Communities Can Participate
State officials say businesses and organizations can also support cleanup efforts through PennDOT’s Sponsor-A-Highway program.
The program allows sponsors to fund litter removal along highways—especially in areas where volunteer groups cannot safely work—and receive roadside signs recognizing their participation.
Information about cleanup programs and volunteer opportunities is available through PennDOT’s cleanup resource page at https://www.pa.gov/cleanup.
“Keeping Pennsylvania beautiful starts with all of us,” said Shannon Reiter, executive director of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “Our volunteers, partners, and community groups play a vital role in protecting our waterways, parks, and neighborhoods.”
Cecelia Cagni, director of corporate communications for the Pittsburgh Steelers, said local volunteers are helping prepare the region for the international attention expected during the 2026 NFL Draft.
“We are excited to welcome football fans from around the world to Pittsburgh for the 2026 Draft,” Cagni said. “We are grateful to the host of dedicated volunteers and partners who are stepping up in true Pittsburgh fashion to ensure Pennsylvania’s natural beauty shines brightly on this global stage.”
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