PennDOT, PA State Police highlight litter enforcement efforts in NEPA

Yahoo

29-04-2025

Apr. 28—WILKES-BARRE — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania State Police collaborated to discuss penalties for littering and littering in a litter enforcement corridor.
PennDOT and PSP held a press event on Monday in Lackawanna County to explain what litter enforcement is, why it's important and what the penalties are for littering.
"PennDOT Engineering District 4 is proud to continue our partnerships with the Pennsylvania State Police, the Department of Corrections (SCI Waymart and Dallas) and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful today to highlight our efforts to reduce littering in Northeast PA." said Loni Tomaine, P.E., acting assistant district executive of maintenance at PennDOT Engineering District 4.
Litter enforcement corridors have a high aesthetic or historic value worth preserving or need some additional help with litter issues. Approved segments are marked with signs to notify motorists of additional litter fines: doubled penalties for motorists caught scattering rubbish and tripled when it is done by a commercial business.
Litter enforcement corridors also offer increased safety for workers or volunteers who are picking up trash in a designated corridor.
When drivers in these areas see traffic control devices, they must yield the right of way, as in a construction work zone. For this reason, it's important to plan a cleanup event with local or state authorities involved when possible.
For information on establishing a litter enforcement corridor, consult PennDOT's roadside enforcement manual on PennDOT's website.
Additionally, PennDOT is in search of volunteers to participate in the northeast region's Adopt-A-Highway program, which involves cleaning litter from state-owned roadsides.
Roadways and other areas can be adopted by individuals or organized groups such as clubs, schools, churches, businesses and families. In return for their participation, PennDOT posts signs along the roadway giving the volunteers credit for their efforts.
Gloves, trash bags and safety vests for the cleanup campaign are provided by PennDOT, Department of Environmental Protection and Pick Up Pennsylvania, which runs from March 1 to May 31.
Interested groups and individuals can sign up for the program at www.adoptahighway.penndot.pa.gov.
Highlighting farmers, food banks in fight against hunger
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding this week held a roundtable discussion with farmers to highlight Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed investments in the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System and the State Food Purchase Program.
These programs are vital to strengthening Pennsylvania's food supply chain and ensuring that nutritious food reaches those who need it, especially with announced federal cuts to support for Pennsylvania farmers and food banks.
The discussion brought food bank leaders and farmers together to explore the challenges that would be magnified by federal funding cuts. In contrast, the group discussed the positive impact the increases and initiatives in Shapiro's 2025-26 budget proposal would have on Pennsylvania food banks, the regional food system and area farmers.
"With the bipartisan support of the General Assembly and the overwhelming generosity of Pennsylvania farmers, we have built successful programs to tackle food insecurity and put healthy, nutritious, local food on the tables of families across Pennsylvania," Redding said. "We simply can't afford to turn back time and undermine the progress we have made together for Pennsylvania families and farms."
In his 2025-26 budget proposal, Shapiro calls for a $4 million increase to the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System, which connects low-income Pennsylvanians with healthy, local food through 13 regional food banks across the state. The governor's budget proposal also calls for an addition $4 million for the State Food Purchase Program to increase the resources available to emergency food providers in all 67 counties.
These proposed increases would bring the combined total for these programs to $34.6 million.
The proposed funding comes at a pivotal moment for food security efforts across the Commonwealth. Demand for food assistance remains high, and the recent, cancellation of $13 million through the USDA's Local Food Purchasing Assistance program has left a significant funding gap.
Designed to support agricultural producers in weathering the whims of Mother Nature and market pressures, PASS pays producers for wholesome food products. Food is diverted to Pennsylvania's food banks instead of being left in the fields or landfilled. Each year, PASS supports over 1.4 million Pennsylvania households by distributing more than six million pounds of locally sourced food from over 100 farmers.
Through the State Food Purchase Program — the largest state-funded initiative of its kind in the nation — Pennsylvania provides direct cash grants to counties for the purchase and distribution of food to low-income individuals and families.
In 2023-24, more than 3.1 million Pennsylvanians were served throughout all 67 counties. Designed to supplement the efforts of food banks, pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, SFPP reflects the Commonwealth's ongoing commitment to addressing hunger and improving nutrition.
Agriculture is a cornerstone of Pennsylvania's economy, with over 53,000 farms generating $132.5 billion annually and supporting 600,000 jobs.
Walsh to host concealed carry seminar
Rep. Jamie Walsh, R-Ross Township, will host a seminar to educate constituents about the process of acquiring a concealed carry permit, the details surrounding Castle Doctrine and other information regarding state gun laws and firearm safety.
Attending with Walsh will be Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce and Luzerne County Sheriff Brian Szumski.
The seminar will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Butler Township Municipal Building, 83 Corporate Drive, Drums.
Pugh to host community shredding event
In an effort to help residents easily dispose of documents with personal and sensitive information, Rep. Brenda Pugh, R-Dallas Township, will host a Shredding Day for residents of the 120th Legislative District from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
The event will take place at the West Side Career and Technology Center in Pringle.
This free event provides an opportunity for residents to securely dispose of personal documents such as bank statements, tax returns and other sensitive information that may put them at risk for identity theft.
Upon arrival, residents are asked to stay in their vehicles, where Pugh or a member of her staff will be readily available to assist. Each vehicle will be limited to shredding three copy-paper-sized boxes of paper.
In addition, the Luzerne County District Attorney's Office will be on hand to collect old and expired prescriptions; American Legion Post 395 will collect damaged or old flags; and Sara's Table will be on hand to collect non-perishable canned goods.
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.