The great American clean-up part 3: Another successful clean-up in Centralia

October 2018

On 20 October 2018, around 100 volunteers contributed to the 5th annual community clean-up in Centralia, “Pennsylvania’s Lost Town.”

Organized by EPCAMR (Eastern PA Coalition of Abandoned Mine Reclamation), the clean-up has become an increasingly popular annual tradition for community-minded citizens of Pennsylvania and beyond the state, along with current and former residents of Centralia.

A once thriving community in the heart of Pennsylvania’s anthracite coal region, which is now home to just 6 residents, has become a popular place for thoughtless people who dump their trash down the deserted former residential streets; everything from household waste, to appliances, to furniture, to old tires.

This year, EPCAMR executive director and clean-up organizer Bobby Hughes arranged the use of three industrial trash bins, up from the two that have been used in previous years, which were all filled to the rim by the enthusiastic volunteers with 10.88 tons of garbage, including 161 tires.

Also this year, Hughes was able to partner with Bridgestone Tires to the pickup and recycle all the tires that were collected as a part of their Bridgestone Tires4ward Program, saving EPCAMR $805 in disposal costs.

As a further measure to combat the illegal dumping in Centralia, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development approved the installation of surveillance cameras to deter future dumping and record offenders for later prosecution.

Although EPCAMR and other corporations usually donate supplies and two industrial garbage bins, donations are always appreciated and help off-set the cost of food, drinks, water, tools, heavy duty garbage bags, gloves, cleanup supplies, hand sanitizer, first aid kits, refreshments, snacks for the volunteers and EPCAMR staff in attendance and haulage and landfill tipping fees.

Donations for this or future clean-ups can be made on-line at www.givegab.com/nonprofits/eastern-pa-coalition-for-abandoned-mine-reclamation/campaigns/clean-up-centralia-for-centralians-past-present or to:

EPCAMR
c/o Robert Hughes, Clean-Up Event
101 S. Main St.
Ashley, PA 18706

For more information on “Pennsylvania’s Lost Town” check out my past articles, including my first one –