370+ volunteers collected 725 bags of trash across 31 locations
Far more than a tagline, Pick Up the Poconos keeps piling up the impact on the entire region with another successful Pick Up the Poconos made possible by hundreds of volunteers across the four counties. Nearly 400 people answered the call to gear up and go out on area roadways to pick litter on April 25, 2026 in celebration of Earth Day. And more volunteers are still going out this month ahead of summer.
“We are continually amazed by the sheer will of volunteers to make sure our Pocono Mountains is picked up,” said Chris Barrett, President/CEO of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau (PMVB). “We are making great strides in the fight against litter in our beautiful region and that’s a credit to the groups, organizations and volunteers who answer the call each spring.”
Individual volunteers and groups removed discarded trash along streets, roads and highway exit ramps. The PMVB would like to recognize and thank the many people, organizations and groups that pick up litter year-round and in turn keep our beloved Poconos clean and green. This year proved especially challenging with inclement weather spreading out the little cleanups across multiple weeks and weekends.
In total, 371 volunteers participated in many participating boroughs and townships in Pike, Wayne, Carbon and Monroe counties. Pick Up the Poconos included 31 locations, in fact, covered 133 miles of roadway and removed 725 bags of trash and sent it to the landfill. In all, 29 organizations took part in the annual cleanup including Panther Valley Blueprint Community and the Honesdale Area Jaycees, not to mention many other groups such as Keep Hawley-Honesdale Beautiful that make a considerable impact each year as well.
The Pick Up the Poconos campaign has resulted in nearly 55,000 bags of trash being picked up and properly disposed of over the last eight years.
Pick Up the Poconos is supported by key partners including Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Monroe County Municipal Waste Management Authority, PennDOT, Waste Management, and many participating boroughs and townships.
Watch for the 2027 date and signups at PickUpThePoconos.com.
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