Philadelphia’s sanitation crews are going to be a bit delayed during the coming weeks in picking up curbside trash, but residents are encouraged to volunteer their own time and efforts to help clean up public spaces in advance of the warm weather season.
Raymond Jackson, an administrator with the Streets Department, delivered that perplexing news during the monthly meeting of the Holme Circle Civic Association on March 25.
Jackson acknowledged that a lot of folks haven’t been getting timely trash pickup lately because of a shortage of trash trucks. The city is blaming a series of snowstorms in recent winters for ravaging the fleet. When major winter storms strike, the city repurposes the sanitation trucks for plowing snow and treating streets. As a result of this demanding duty, many trucks are in the shop for extensive repairs while others have been removed from service altogether because they are too damaged and too old to fix.
Sanitation crews will continue to collect rubbish and recyclables separately, with recycling the priority. Perhaps not coincidentally, the city profits on recycled trash but must pay to dispose of non-recycled trash. Residents are asked to place their rubbish and recyclables at the curb on their scheduled trash day. If a sanitation crew doesn’t show up that day, it should arrive on the following day.
Jackson said that the Streets Department hopes to get 50 new trash trucks this summer to restore regular service. When asked what all of the city’s sanitation employees are doing if they don’t have trash trucks to use, Jackson replied that they’re doing other cleanup jobs like street sweeping and removing illegal signs.
In the meantime, the department is asking folks to join the eighth annual Philly Spring Cleanup on Saturday, April 11. Cleanup events are scheduled throughout the city and are being organized by neighborhood organizations. For a full list of sites, visit www.philadelphiastreets.com/philly-spring-cleanup. Neighborhood groups may also start their own cleanup event. Call 215–686–5459 for information.
Individual blocks can schedule their own cleanup days anytime through the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee, Jackson said. A resident must first register as a block captain. To become a block captain, the person must obtain signatures from at least half the homeowners on the block. Once approved, the block captain can plan a cleanup event and obtain supplies including trash bags, tools and even paint from the city. Call 215–685–3981 or visit www.philadelphiastreets.com/pmbc/block-captain for information.
Jackson said that residents shouldn’t get ticketed for leaving their trash cans at the curb after the allotted pickup time if a sanitation crew never showed up on the block. Further, at the request of Paul Ragan — an aide to city Councilman Bobby Henon — Jackson said he would investigate complaints that sanitation enforcement officers have been taking advantage of windy days to ticket residents for having loose trash on their properties. Some of Henon’s constituents have been fined $75 for litter in their yards, Ragan said.
In other Holme Circle Civic activity:
• Members voted to donate $300 in supermarket gift cards to benefit the displaced residents of the fire-ravaged Rita Grace Manor apartments. About 100 people were forced to relocate after the four-alarm fire on March 17. Civic group members were also asked to donate individually. The civic association will purchase the gift cards through the scrip program at St. Jerome’s School so that the students will also benefit.
• HCCA board member Elsie Stevens will sell blue porch light bulbs at the next civic meeting on April 29 at 7 p.m. at St. Jerome’s School. The bulbs represent support for police. Proceeds from their sale benefits the 8th Police District Advisory Council. Bulbs cost $4 each.
• The HCCA will host a political candidates night during the April 29 meeting. Candidates for municipal offices including mayor, council, commissioner and sheriff, along with judicial candidates, will be invited to speak.
• Mike Fagan, an aide to state Rep. John Sabatina Jr., announced that his office will hold a senior citizens expo on April 17 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Pelbano Recreation Center, Solly and Bustleton avenues.
• Ragan, from Henon’s office, invited residents to call 215–683–9229 for information about Northeast 2020, a series of forums where issues including public space, health, public safety and education will be discussed. The forums start April 7. ••
