Steel Recycling Institute Provides Leadership in Promoting State Cleanup Efforts

SRI President Bill Heenan (right) kicked off the Great Pennsylvania Cleanup with adults and students.

As president of the Steel Recycling Institute, Bill Heenan has consistently taught the benefits of steel recycling to state and federal legislators, environmental organizations, national media outlets, and countless other groups. But his teaching took on a new tone recently as he talked to third-graders about why they should recycle steel products.

Bill spoke with the next generation of recyclers in his role as co-chair of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, along with Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Katie McGinty. Their announcement at the Thomas W. Holtzman Elementary School in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County on February 9th kicked off the Great Pennsylvania Cleanup, which is part of the national Great American Cleanup sponsored by Keep America Beautiful, Inc.

Last year's Great Pennsylvania Cleanup involved 140,000 volunteers cleaning up more than 11,000 miles of roadways, 12,000 acres of parkland and 3,500 miles of streams. Nationwide, more than 2.4 million Americans participated in this effort.

"Our industry's involvement with both Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful continues to pay dividends in reaching businesspeople and consumers nationwide with the steel recycling story," Heenan said . "Our involvement is not just the right thing to do, but it's the smart thing to do as we tell Americans of all ages that their steel products are totally recyclable and that they have a responsibility to future generations to recycle these products." Heenan said that Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is supported and sponsored by a wide range of businesses, trade organizations, civic and environmental groups, and state and local government agencies.

The Great American Cleanup runs from March 1 to May 31, 2006. For information on how to get involved, visit www.kab.org.