Eight truckloads, or six tons of trash, 250 tires, and a half ton of scrap metal were removed from the Bendersville and Slate Quarry roads in Michaux State Forest on April 7, 2001. Forty-five volunteers contributed 180 hours to accomplish this immense task in Cumberland and Adams counties.
Despite heavy rain just before the cleanup, volunteers, including students from Paradise School in Hanover, arrived at the site ready to make a difference. They wouldn't stop after cleaning
Bendersville (Pine Grove Furnace) Road and Slate Quarry Road--they found
some trash on Piney Mountain Ridge Road, the road connecting the two
roads designated for cleanup, and hauled trash from its roadside!
The cleanup was successful thanks to PA Jeeps for providing four Jeeps to winch tires and heavy items up the steep slopes. Cooke Township,
Cumberland County, provided traffic control and hauled the trash bagged by volunteers to the roll-off container, as did Michaux State Forest employees. Menallen Township, Adams County,
chipped yard wastes removed from the roadside.
IESI, Chambersburg Hauling and Blueridge Landfill, Fayetteville, donated a roll-off
container, hauling and disposal of the trash. Hauling and disposal of tires was handled by Beecher's Auto Salvage,
Fayetteville. Sheetz, Inc. in Mt. Holly
Springs provided drinks and ice for the volunteers.
Michaux State Forest is located in Cumberland, Franklin, and Adams Counties. It is comprised of 82,261 acres and is named in honor of Andre Michaux and his son, Francois Andre Michaux, the well-known French botanist.
The vast woodlands and natural areas are used by, among others, hunters, anglers, hikers, bikers, and picnickers. Hikers on the Appalachian Trail traverse about 40 miles through the forest.
