Suffern Man Earns Rockland's Outstanding Environmental Volunteer Award

NEW CITY, NY — For the past 25 years, John LaPlaca has been cleaning up Rockland County. Thursday, County Executive Ed Day dedicated a serviceberry tree at Kennedy-Dells County Park in honor of the Suffern resident. LaPlaca is the recipient of this year's Outstanding Environmental Volunteer Award.

His first cleanups started when he was a Boy Scout and continued until he was Scout Master. Last year, he collected 1,000 bags of trash from Rockland's roadways and parks. That marked the 19th year in a row he collected 1,000 bags in a single year.

Keep Rockland Beautiful has been tracking LaPlaca's efforts for many years. He continues to provide tips about the status of troublesome sites, illegal dumping, and where to best send volunteers.

"Our natural environment doesn't always stay pristine by itself. It takes the efforts of people like John LaPlaca who go above and beyond to ensure our grounds, streams and rivers are litter free," said Day. "Now in its 20th year, we are proud to continue the tradition and honor John with the County's Environmental Volunteer Award. On behalf of our Rockland residents, we thank John for his dedication to our environment."

LaPlaca has also been recognized by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission for his cleanup efforts in Sterling Forest, where he earned the nickname "Trash Angel."

LaPlaca's name will be added to a plaque featuring previous environmental award recipients dating back to the first award given back in 1998. The plaque is displayed in the County Executive's Office. (pictured: Rockland County Executive Ed Day, John LaPlaca, Patricia LaPlaca and Allan Beers, head of the division of Environmental Resources).