Residents of North Philadelphia will soon see improvements in waste management, as the city introduces twice-weekly trash collection starting on January 5, 2024. This initiative, led by Mayor Cherelle Parker, aims to reduce the accumulation of household waste and curb illegal dumping in the area.
According to Carlton Williams, director of Philadelphia’s Office of Clean and Green Initiatives, many households generate significant amounts of waste throughout the week. “Just by midweek, you usually generate two or three bags of trash,” Williams noted. “By the time you are able to have that weekly collection, you may have six or seven bags of trash.”
Expansion of Trash Pickup Areas
The expanded service will cover multiple neighborhoods, including Tioga, Strawberry Mansion, Brewerytown, and Fairmount to the west of Broad Street, as well as Fairhill, Fishtown, Ludlow, and Northern Liberties to the east. The new schedule will see the second pickup occur three or four days after the original collection day. For instance, areas currently serviced on Mondays will receive a second pickup on Thursdays, while those with Friday collections will see an additional pickup on Tuesdays. It is important to note that this service will not be available during weeks with city-observed holidays, and recycling will continue to be collected once a week.
Criteria for Service Selection
Williams explained that the city selected areas for this twice-weekly service based on various factors, including population density and the concentration of multifamily housing. Areas with limited storage for trash are prioritized, as they tend to have higher rates of illegal dumping. “Densely populated communities with multifamily properties and limited storage capacity for trash are most likely to dump in remote locations,” he added.
The hope is that more frequent collection will help minimize illegal dumping, which has been a growing concern. Although the most blatant cases of illegal dumping typically involve contractors and commercial establishments, residential waste generates the highest number of complaints. Williams pointed out that illegally dumped trash often ends up in vacant lots, on street corners, and around public spaces, leading to a cycle of increased dumping.
The first phase of the twice-weekly pickup program was rolled out in parts of South Philadelphia and Center City last year. While some residents voiced concerns that the initiative exacerbated litter issues, citing instances of trash spilling from bins during collection, Williams reported some positive trends. Since the program’s inception, calls to report illegal dumping in South Philadelphia have decreased slightly, and there has been an improvement in scores on the Community Appearance Index, although that data has not been publicly released.
“This is progress that we’re happy to continue here in North Philadelphia to try to mitigate these conditions,” Williams stated.
As the program prepares for its second phase, residents can anticipate a cleaner environment and a reduction in the challenges associated with waste disposal. For more information on the collection schedule and additional details, residents are encouraged to visit the city’s official website.
