BEACH LAKE, PA — At the July 19 Berlin Township Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Cathy Hunt read an open letter dated July 7 from the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC). Summarizing the results to date of a four-year illegal dumpsite cleanup program, the letter stated that five Wayne County sites had been cleaned up in 2015 and six during spring 2016.

The 2016 campaign, year two of the program, recruited 45 volunteers who devoted 160 hours to the six-site cleanup. Their efforts netted five tons of trash, 1.8 tons of scrap metal and 147 tires.

Participating organizations were the Beach Lake Fishing and Hunting Club, Friends of Starruca Creek, Aldenville Log & Lumber, Bucks Cove Rod and Gun Club, Shady Lane Porch Party Friends, the Wayne County Probation Office and the Wayne County Work Release Program.

All program costs are covered by PEC grant funding, with no cost to participating municipalities.

Hunt and fellow supervisors Charlie Gries and Rob Mahon gave a shout-out to the Beach Lake Fishing and Hunting Club, in particular, for performing voluntary public service with long-term benefits.

Many illegal dumpsites date back more than 100 years, before local ordinances set aside land expressly for landfills, recycling and trash transfer. Disposal of hazardous and non-biodegradable materials in those dumpsites have made for both short-term and long-term dangers to public health and safety.

For more information about PEC, the dumpsite cleanup program and other PEC programs and services, see www.pecpa.org, or contact PEC’s Northeast Regional Office in Luzerne, PA, at 570/718-6507.