Fishbrain teams up with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful

Starting this Labor Day (Monday September 5th), Fishbrain users in Pennsylvania are encouraged to take part in a month-long trash-logging initiative launched by Fishbrain and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, the state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.

As lovers of the great outdoors, and people who spend a lot of their leisure time on or near the water, anglers are perfectly placed to help Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful in their vision for a more pristine state. With 2022 marking the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the milestone is a reminder of the importance of keeping waterways across the US clean and trash-free, a mission to which anglers can positively contribute. 

What to look for

From September 5th (Labor Day) until October 5th, we’re asking our users in Pennsylvania to look out for: 

• Cigarette butts

• Beverage containers - glass, plastic, or metal

• Styrofoam containers

• Food wrappers

• Plastic bags

• Plastic pieces

• Tires

• Fishing gear

• Personal Protection Equipment (gloves, masks, etc.)

As well as any other trash items that anglers might spot. 

(List provided by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful)

How to record trash 

Any trash spotted should be photographed, and the photo should be uploaded as a post to the Fishbrain app, tagging the water where it was found and using the hashtag #trashoftheday 

The data collected will help Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful monitor garbage across the waterways and to best direct their volunteers’ litter clean-up and prevention efforts.

The trash-logging period will last from September 5th - October 5th 2022. 

“Our users love spending time out in nature and on the waterways, and have real respect for the natural world,”  Fishbrain CEO Johan Attby said. 

“Anglers have a significant part to play in looking after the environment, both through responsible fishing practices and also through getting involved in broader initiatives to look after the world around us, like this trash-logging project. With the expectation that many of our users will be out on the water on Labor Day and in the following weeks, we are delighted to work with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to ask our users to record any litter they notice while out and about, and hope this initiative also raises awareness of the importance of not disposing of trash irresponsibly.”

Since 1990, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has worked with hundreds of thousands of volunteers across the state to pick up nearly 152 million pounds of trash from Pennsylvania's roadways, waterways, greenways, vacant lots, forestlands and other community spaces. The organization works with partnering groups on the state and grassroots level to focus on litter and illegal dump prevention, cleanup, community greening, proper waste handling and sustainable practices. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is the state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., the nation’s largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. To learn more about Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, visit www.keeppabeautiful.org.

“Plastic and other debris continues to make its way into our waterways, causing harm to people, wildlife and our economies,” Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful President Shannon Reiter said. 

“Preventing litter from entering local waterways, before it can reach our oceans, is an important part of our mission to keep Pennsylvania clean and beautiful. We are excited to work with Fishbrain to reach enthusiastic anglers across the state and encourage them to join us in our mission while enjoying Pennsylvania waterways.”

Pennsylvanians keen to get involved in Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s work beyond this trash-logging can also check out the Waterway Steward Program. 

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