Through a new statewide education and awareness campaign featuring public service announcements, a toll-free hotline, partnerships with statewide anti-litter organizations and the dissemination of litter prevention kits, the agencies are working to "Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful."

DEP Secretary James M. Seif recently unveiled the classic Litterbug, updated with a new look, to help spread Pennsylvania's anti-littering message. The cultural icon, which debuted in the early 1950's, is starring in statewide radio and television public service announcements.

"The Litterbug will help us convey the anti-litter message by creating a common link between today's children and the many parents who grew up singing the 'Don't be a Litterbug' jungle themselves," said Seif.

According to Keep America Beautiful, Inc., a national litter prevention organization, the nation's highway departments spend millions of dollars each year in taxpayer money to pick up litter left behind by motorists.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike spent over $1,221,000 in fiscal year 1997 for litter pick-up and debris removal, up from the $766,881 spent the year before. That's in addition to the litter which is picked-up by Turnpike maintenance crews as part of their day-to-day activities.

Prior to the start of each mowing season, Turnpike employees comb the grassy areas alongside the highway to remove litter and other debris. Rubber, metal and other recyclables are separated and sold, allowing the Turnpike to recoup a small percentage of the dollars spent to keep America's first superhighway beautiful.

The new anti-littering campaign features a toll-free hotline, 1-888-LITTERBUG, so that citizens can report the license number of violators. All calls go directly to the Pennsylvania Resources Council, an independent, non-profit organization based in Newtown Square, PA.

Reported offenders will receive a friendly letter explaining the environmental and economic problems caused by litter as well as a litter bag, featuring the Litterbug, for their car. The Litterbug Hotline received nearly 7,000 calls reporting litterbugs since February 24, 1997.

Seif also noted that Cellular One Communications, AT&T Wireless and 360º Communications are the newest partners in Pennsylvania's anti-litter campaign.

"After launching the campaign last year, we were overwhelmed with the response to our hotline," Seif continued. "We are happy to have cellular phone providers as our partner in educating people about the impact of litter and providing easy access to the Litterbug hotline."

Through the cooperation of the cellular telephone companies, cellular phone users can easily contact the Litterbug hotline by calling #BUG (#284) to report a violator's license plate number. Cellular One is announcing the service in billing inserts and on signs at their retail outlets. This is a free call for Cellular One and 360º Communications Customers.

Sixty percent of the calls received to date were related to the littering of tobacco products. Twenty-four percent were related to packaging and four percent were related to beverage containers.

First developed by the Pennsylvania Roadside Council (now the Pennsylvania Resources Council) in 1951, the Litterbug is often identified with the anti-litter movement of the late 1950's and early 1960's.

Seif also said that litter prevention kits will be available to the public from DEP regional offices, Department of Transportation district offices, county recycling coordinators and county conservation districts. The kits will include a litter bag, information on how to use the Litterbug Hotline, a litterbug resource directory, and additional information on the Litterbug.

DEP has also formed a number of litter prevention partnerships with groups such as the Adams County Solid Waste Department; Audubon Society; Browning Ferris Industries; Coca-Cola Bottling of Pottsville; Delaware County Environmental Network; Fayette County Office of Planning and Community Development; Gettysburg Borough; Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority; Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee; Monroe County Litter Control and Beautification Program; Ohio River Cleansweep; Partners IN Parks; Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee; PhilaPride; Pennsylvania Cleansweep; Pennsylvania Resources Council; Pennsylvania Soft Drink Association; Schuylkill Keep it Pretty; and Waste Management, Inc.

More information on the litter campaign is available on the DEP web site at www.dep.state.pa.us (choose Information by Subject/Recycling.)