Pennsylvania Clears Over 200 Tons of Trash from Illegal Dumpsite

Harrisburg, PA— Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Michael DiBerardinis announced that 235 tons of debris and tires recently were removed from a massive illegal dumpsite abutting Michaux State Forest in Cumberland County, as part of the state's Forest Lands Beautification Program.

"This was a huge undertaking — the largest so far under this program," Secretary DiBerardinis said. "It took nearly 140 volunteers and equipment operators 11 days to clear this site, which, at its most concentrated area, had trash 14 feet deep. We hope our forests never again experience such blatant disregard for our natural resources."

With help from equipment operators using a crane and large container, volunteers removed appliances, tires and trash from a steep slope over a four-day period in late March. Near the top of the slope, a backhoe-exposed trash piled more than 14 feet deep, which volunteers handpicked and bagged for proper disposal for several days in early April. In addition to daily trash, bulky items and appliances, volunteers removed 825 tires from the site for recycling.

After cleanup, the area was filled with clean soil, and grass seed was planted.

"The volunteers did a fabulous job in restoring this area," Assistant District Forester Gary Zimmerman said. "For probably more than 70 years, this area has been used to dump everything. People don't feel guilty adding to an existing pile of stuff; but, fortunately, once an area is cleaned, it usually stays that way."

PA CleanWays, DCNR's cleanup partner, and its Cumberland County Chapter organized the massive cleanup efforts of volunteers, who worked for a total of almost 800 hours. More than 100 cadets from the Cornell-Abraxas Leadership Development Program joined volunteers from South Penn Enduro Riders Off Road Motorcycle Club; Tressler Wilderness School; South Middleton Township; Waste Management, Mountain View Reclamation; Carlisle Glass; and Cumberland County Conservation District to improve the site at the north end of Ridge Road overlooking Mt. Holly Springs.