As Pittsburgh prepares to host the NFL Draft, Pennsylvania officials are asking residents to lend a hand in cleaning up litter in and around the city.
Despite ongoing cleanup efforts by PennDOT, Secretary Mike Carroll said it’s “not enough.”
“We really rely on our volunteer groups to get things done when it comes to litter removal,” he said Thursday alongside other officials at an on-ramp in Green Tree.
The event, which encouraged residents to help by picking up debris in their communities, was held at the Greentree Road on-ramp to the Parkway West.
The NFL Draft runs April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
“It is more important than ever that we clean up and beautify our communities, but not just for our visitors but also for ourselves because we deserve that,” said Shannon Reiter, executive director of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
A way for local community members to do that is by volunteering through KBP’s “Pick Up Pennsylvania” program, which is the commonwealth’s largest community improvement initiative, according to Reiter.
In 2025, Carroll said over 81,000 volunteers removed more than 4 million pounds of litter and debris from Pennsylvania’s roadways. With thousands expected to flock to the Pittsburgh region for the NFL Draft, he said all eyes and ears will be on Allegheny County.
“We need that volunteerism,” he said.
Last year, more than 6 million pounds of recyclables were picked up across the commonwealth by volunteers as well, according to John Ryder, deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
There are more than 500 million pieces of litter on Pennsylvania’s roads, according to Ryder. Besides volunteering, people, groups or corporations can adopt a highway to beautify it.
Lauren Connelly, economic development director for Allegheny County, said there are more than 300 miles of county roads available for adoption.
The county has also allocated $4 million to supporting streetscape improvements, Connelly said, including block cleanups at the community level.
“Whether you participate in organized volunteer efforts or you take it upon yourself to pick up litter in your own neighborhood, every action contributes to the greater good, and we appreciate it all,” she said.
PennDOT’s forces are preparing for the NFL Draft’s influx of visitors, according to Carroll, and the department has been working with the Steelers and the NFL in planning.
Annually, PennDOT spends more than $15 million on litter and debris removal from roadsides across the commonwealth, he said, with up to $1 million of that spent in the Pittsburgh area. This year, upwards of $2 million will be spent to deal with litter and graffiti, as well as potholes.
Though anything could happen with the weather, he said he’s hopeful that PennDOT is able to suspend its winter activities in the Pittsburgh area and focus on cleaning up the city.
Cecelia Cagni, director of corporate communications for the Pittsburgh Steelers, said events like the NFL Draft will raise the profile of Pittsburgh, drive more visitation and attract new neighbors and investments.
“The draft is a three-day event, but in reality, it’s designed for lasting impact and to leave Pittsburgh better than it was before,” she said. “We want to make sure that we shine continually and into the future.”
