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I was pleased to learn that our state has released its first-ever Litter Action Plan.
As a Pennsylvania citizen, I've watched in alarm how littering has become a major eyesore along our highways and byways.
This initiative, available to read on our DEP's website, has a common sense approach to tackle this issue from many angles, including a new push toward litter prevention, to help change behaviors that lead to littering.
Hopefully this initiative will go a long way toward reducing the state's annual $14 million cost to clean up our state's litter.
Besides saving money, reducing litter will positively impact our citizens' health with less micro-plastics leaching into our groundwater from decomposing roadside plastic litter.
The initiative can also boost our state economy with tourism, showcasing our state's beauty with a litter-free countryside.
In closing, as a person of faith, I believe that we have a moral obligation to keep the environment, a God-given gift, clean and litter-free.
I hope our state legislators will support and find ways to promote the Litter Action Plan.
Contact them and let them know you support this state-wide effort and ask them to promote it. It is in the best interest of us all.
George Dempsie
Huntingdon
(The writer is a board member of PA Interfaith Power and Light.)