The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the kickoff of the 2026 Pick Up Pennsylvania litter cleanup initiative ahead of what officials expect to be a historic tourism season in the Commonwealth.
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll joined the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Allegheny County Government, and the Pittsburgh Steelers to launch the initiative and encourage volunteers to help keep communities clean and free from litter.
Officials expect 2026 to bring more than 209 million travelers to Pennsylvania. Major events scheduled in the Commonwealth include the NFL Draft, PGA Championship, FIFA World Cup, MLB All-Star Series, and America250PA celebrations.
Approximately 600,000 fans are expected to visit Pittsburgh for the NFL Draft alone.
During the 2025 Pick Up PA campaign, more than 81,000 volunteers collected more than 4 million pounds of litter and trash from Pennsylvania roadways.
More information about the initiative and how to volunteer is available at: https://pacast.com/m?p=28886.
Photo credits to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)