An official from the city’s SWEEP program handed out recycling buckets at civic association meeting.
The Lawncrest Community Association last week welcomed Fran Boyle, an officer with the city Streets & Walkways Education and Enforcement Program (SWEEP).
Boyle distributed recycling buckets.
In response to a question about sanitation workers not emptying recycling buckets, Boyle said the workers will move on if they see a non-recyclable item in the bucket.
“They are instructed to leave it and walk away,” he said.
Some people complained that sanitation workers often dump the contents of recycling buckets into the trash.
“That should not be done,” Boyle said.
Others complained that some sanitation workers don’t pick up trash that falls out of bags.
Boyle told residents to get the truck number and call 311.
Residents of a house can put out a maximum of eight bags and two cans per week.
SWEEP officers will look for recyclables in the trash if no bucket is placed at the curb.
If residents don’t have any recyclables during a certain week, someone recommended putting out the bucket anyway, so a SWEEP officer will not root through their trash.
Boyle invited people to take their trash to the sanitation facility at 8401 State Road (at Ashburner Street) when it is not their collection day.
People are instructed to recycle paper, plastics, glass, cardboard, cartons and metals. Plastic bags and Styrofoam should not be recycled.
In other news from the Nov. 20 meeting:
• Corin Wilson, a project manager at Mural Arts Philadelphia, spoke of banners that will be placed along Rising Sun Avenue. After a complaint that the program does not plan to hang banners south of Robbins Street, Wilson said no final decisions have been made.
• LCA members learned that a hearing has been continued again on a proposed use of a lot for parking cars at Speedy Auto, 100 Comly St. The lot is located in Cheltenham, behind Newtown Avenue in Lawncrest. Sergio Polyakov has owned the property for 20 years and wants to park up to 30 cars on the vacant lot. The Cheltenham Planning Commission has recommended that the Cheltenham Zoning Hearing Board reject the proposal. The zoning board was scheduled to meet Nov. 19, but the hearing will be held at a later date.
In related news, the Burger King at 5921 Rising Sun Ave. is being rehabbed.
Also, there will be a hearing on Jan, 9 for a proposed day care at 537 Sanger St. (at Colgate Street). The property owner who first made the proposal died earlier this year, and her sister wants to move forward. The former owner wanted to care for up to 22 kids on two floors. The LCA is insisting on the use of only one floor. The property is zoned residential.
• Lawndale Holy Grace Presbyterian Church, 346 Levick St. (at Oakley Street), invites the public to a free Christmas concert on Sunday, Dec. 2, at 3 p.m. A fellowship supper will follow the concert. Call 215-745-2881.
• LCA members observed a moment of silence for the victims of the California wildfires, Chicago hospital shooting and Pittsburgh synagogue murders.
• Resident Kathy Wersinger noted that the meeting was held on the 50th anniversary of the death of Army Cpl. Michael J. Crescenz, a Cardinal Dougherty High School graduate who earned the Medal of Honor for bravery in the Vietnam War.
• There was a brief discussion of the city’s new Water and Sewer Service Line Protection Program to protect homeowners from costly water and sewer service line repairs. American Water Resources is providing the service for a relatively small monthly fee. Call 844-765-7260 or visit https://awrusa.com/philadelphia/
• The Lawncrest Community Association will meet again on Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. at St. William parish hall, Argyle and Robbins streets. The group will celebrate its annual holiday party. ••
