2 minute read
Estuary News 2019, Issue 3
Improving Schuylkill Waters with CleanSweep
New App Makes Organizing Community Cleanups a Snap
By Erica Rossetti, PDE Schuylkill Action Network Associate
The Schuylkill River was once known as a “polluter’s paradise.” But several years of cleanup efforts have turned things around, and it’s a dumping ground no more.
One notable effort toward improving the Schuylkill is the annual Schuylkill Scrub, a watershed-wide cleanup coordinated by the Schuylkill Action Network (SAN). As part of this initiative, Schuylkill River Greenways, a key SAN partner, launched CleanSweep, a smart-phone app and webbased dashboard that further engages volunteers in cleaning trash and debris from the Schuylkill River Watershed.
CleanSweep creates one place for cleanup organizers and volunteers in the watershed to see measurable results from cleanups, which in turn could inspire future cleanups.
Through the app, users can report litter “hot spots,” register their own cleanup event, record cleanup results and view statistics and photos right from the field. The app and dashboard have an interactive map that helps users find cleanups close to home and view streamlined data from throughout the watershed. The app also tracks data year-round, allowing for expanded cleanup efforts in the watershed.
For more information and to download the app, check out the dashboard today at: www.SchuylkillCleanSweep.org.
