Trash Me

Keep Philadelphia Beautiful has teamed up with community organizations in a campaign to keep smokers conscientious about their butts. KPB is supporting groups like Old City District, University City District and http://www.manayunk.com/, conducting research on cigarette litter and providing education and awareness programs. The campaign started in July and will continue through the summer, and is also receiving assistance by Fairmount Park and Streets Department.

Often both visible and ignored, cigarette butts make up a considerable portion of litter. “Cigarette butts,” according to a media advisory by KPB, “are the most-littered item in America, representing nearly 30% of waste collected in clean-up initiatives.”

For more information, contact Keep Philadelphia Beautiful at (215) 477-0235.

Over the weekend I received a response from to last week's email by reader Ben, by Deputy Streets Department Commissioner Carlton Williams. Deputy Commissioner Williams has fielded Ben's questions and provided information that will, hopefully, ease concerns about recycling efforts. For additional information, visit the Streets Department homepage.

From Deputy Commissioner Williams:

"With special attention and great interest, I read Ben’s “An Opinionated Email”. The Streets Department has worked hard to give our citizens a first class recycling program for all residents in the City of Philadelphia.

In 2004 the Streets Department piloted two innovative new recycling processes that included single stream recycling and incentive based recycling which is more commonly known as RecycleBank. The pilot programs were tested in the Northwest section of the city in the West Oak Lane and Chestnut Hill communities.

The Streets Department conducted several extensive evaluations of both programs and found single stream recycling to be more cost effective for a citywide program to increasing recycling than the incentive based model. The mechanical lifting equipment used with the incentive based model increased the Streets Department's collection times significantly. A citywide expansion of the incentive based recycling program would increase operating costs more than $3 million annually excluding the fees paid to Recyclebank. Single stream recycling increased recycling tonnage and participation without increasing collection costs and has no fees.

Now that the pilot has concluded the city is pleased to offer a citywide single stream recycling program. The single stream recycling program entitled "All Together Now" has increased recycling tonnage by more than 35% saving tax payers millions of dollars in disposal fees and earning more revenue for the material collected.

Today, Philadelphia is the largest city on the east coast to offer single stream recycling. The City is already benefiting from this new collection process. Last year the Department collected more than 50,000 tons of recyclable materials. This is the highest quantity collected in the history of the City’s recycling program. Subsequently the City earned over $1.9 million in marketing income from the materials which is also a new high point.

Mayor Nutter made recycling a high priority in his administration and this year invested more than $6 million dollars to expand to a weekly single stream recycling program by January 2009. This will further increase recycling tonnage improving the city’s diversion rate.

We appreciate Ben’s enthusiasm and concern for improved recycling in Philadelphia. We share the same goal and will continue to work with the residents of Philadelphia to offer a quality recycling service in the community."

Responses are always appreciated, and last week Melissa and I received one of the most interesting from West Philly recycling advocate Ben: Ben’s email, with some interesting questions and spirited opinions, provides five pages of criticism, information and ideas.

One of Ben's biggest concerns is the lack of "new blood and new ideas" in the leadership of waste management and recycling. Impressed with the national "Call to Service," he is curious about the hold-over in these positions from the old administration to today.

Ben also argues that embracing a group like Recycle Bank would not force additional work for municipal employees, stating the number of workers on the trucks would remain the same - it would still be a three-person job. He would also like to see recycling rates increase at the paces Wilmington, DE and San Francisco, CA set.

And is he is worried to see occasional recycling being picked up with the regular trash (and he isn't alone).

We like to promote a free exchange of ideas, and hopefully the questions Ben asks will motivate reader responses. Do you believe there is more to do? What effect will the new recycling procedures have on the city? Could it be that the approach the Mayor is taking is part of a well-organized agenda? Feedback is always welcomed.

Rolling once again is one of my favorite programs, The Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee Caravan. This Saturday, July 19th, the Caravan will tote representatives from municipal departments to the 2nd and 15th Police Districts. For caravan times and stops, visit PMBC online or contact your local block captain.

I urge Northeast residents to take a few moments and meet the municipal staff onboard; they’ll be equipped with promotional materials and City service knowledge and are worth 10 minutes of your time. Of course, I think it would be even more worthwhile for a Recycle Bank representative to be onboard, too, but that is a different post.

News on research by the Mayor’s Office into the potential for a garbage removal fee has certainly sparked some, er, opining. While I have my own thoughts on this “researched” trash removal fee, I wanted to think outside the box for a moment and suggest a new approach: rather than pay for non-recyclable material removal, why not provide an incentive for diligent recycling? In other words, why hasn’t Philadelphia contacted (or, contracted) Recycle Bank?

I’m sure a few readers are saying, “of course!” Why not recruit the homegrown recycling group that turned diligence into dollars. We can solve municipal needs in more ways than additional taxes and fees. Incentivizing responsibility may be just as effective – and only assumed more welcomed – in boosting recycling percentages and easing the strain on City services, particularly when handled by a private company.

The company’s motto, “Recycle, Record, Reward” seems like a better alternative to the remarks citizens will craft if trash removal is charged. Recycle Bank, featuring a great website that counts the number of trees and barrels of oil is saved daily, picks up recyclables and records the weight of each collection. The amount recycled contributed to a point total, which is used for coupons and discounts and gift cards. Participating partners include Acme, CVS, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Petco.com, among many others.

Unfortunately, this program is invisible in the city. I’ve heard that in previous administrations there has been outreach on the company’s behalf to provide their services to residents, but nothing came of it. Well, why not try again? It is a “new day,” and I’d certainly like to see Recycle Bank given a “new opportunity.”

In an effort to build revenue for the Streets Department, as well as spark residential recycling, the City of Philadelphia is researching the potential impacts in assessing a fee for garbage collection. Reported by The Inquirer this morning, the idea is only being discussed as officials analyze other cities’ best practices, the environmental impact and the possible effects on residential communities.

The new revenue could balance disposal costs, which total $95 million each year, according to the article (read the full article.)

The article also cites the city’s 8% recycling participation rate and that a garbage fee would encourage more residential recycling.

However, I would like to see the what effect single-stream has on the city before we can use that as a reason; as of just last week single-stream was extended to every corner of Philadelphia, with weekly recycling to be available by the end of the year. I’d like to think that will have a positive effect in recycling rates.

Also, I’m hesitant to embrace the idea due to the threat of increased illegal dumping. Charging residents for a previously free City service would certainly prompt some to take their trash elsewhere, whether that is to the corner wire basket, the closest company dumpster or a nearby vacant lot. Illegal dumping is an issue in Philadelphia that would only be fueled by such a fee.

But what is your reaction? Would this be a welcomed move by the new administration, or a tipping point to push away potential residents and irk those already here? Would the benefits of additional revenue outweigh the costs to the individual? Feel free to toss your ideas out there.

As terrible an experience it has surely been for South Philly resident David, his experience is a great story:

David has had encountered his share of littering on his block, and has decided to become active about controlling it. Trying to obtain trash cans for his block – the citizens will do the sweeping they just need a place to put it – he has found it’s not easy being cleanly.

His first steps went smoothly enough; contacting the Mayor’s Office, his District Councilman (the responsive Frank DiCicco) and the good folks here at Trash Me. We’ve been able to provide some initial steps in pursuing a receptacle or two for his street.

City-maintained receptacles, as we all learned, can be elusive. From the Streets Department’s Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee David learned that in order to receive a “wire basket” his block must have a block captain. Naturally, his block is captain-less, and now he is faced with the decision to become a block captain himself in order to secure the can.

I would never dissuade someone from becoming a block captain: it’s an excellent opportunity to use your free time to contribute to your community and interact with neighbors. However, as a young professional myself, I understand the difficulty in sparing such free time, and David is now deciding between balancing his block’s cleanliness with his extra hours, just for a trash can he feels his block certainly merits (note, I took a stroll to his neighborhood, and due to the litter caused by nearby pizza and cheese steak shops, it does). Furthermore, becoming a block captain isn’t necessarily an automatic enlistment, as he needs to petition for 51% of his block’s signatures.

Sometimes it’s difficult being the (civic) responsible one. The Streets Department’s request service page is often only one of many steps. For David, his dedication in pursuit of a clean block has been unwavering, and has certainly earned my applause. We’re working with the Streets Department in an effort to find a more efficient and timely way to supply his street with a basket, so this story looks like it should have a happy ending. But I wanted to highlight the effort it could very well take to do the right things; it’s not always easy, but it is possible, so for those becoming discouraged by phone transfers or prerequisites know that there is light at the end of the tunnel... well, maybe not light, but a wire basket and eventual acknowledgement.

From a reader:

I wanted to follow up on your recent Inquirer blog entitled “I’m with Mayor Nagin, and notes from New Orleans,” especially as it pertained to the effectiveness of trash cans to reducing litter. Please see the email, below, which I sent recently to Mayor Nutter’s constituent support department.

I recently moved from the suburbs into South Philadelphia to be closer to my job in Center City. I enjoy living in the City, yet I am appalled by the amount of trash in the streets. (I sweep my own block about once a week, and pick up between 1-3 bags of garbage. My block is as clean as a hospital compared to the 700-900 block of Snyder Avenue.) In an address to the Philadelphia Bar Association on March 17, which I attended, Mayor Nutter said that the City must attract people like me (young professionals) from the suburbs. Yet if this trash problem is not corrected, I will go right back.

-David

I agree with David. Retaining and attracting this “target demographic,” young professionals, will depend on the City’s ability to respond to living issues like this. Unlike other residents, David’s and my constituency, the 24 – 30-year olds, have the flexibility to relocate if the situation remains the same. Whether that’s abandoning one neighborhood for another or leaving Philadelphia entirely, losing the young and dedicated is something that cannot be afforded if the city wants to compete with other world-class locations.

For other young professionals frustrated with the litter issue, what is your tipping point?

...and catch a litterer in the act. Broadcasting live in Center City this morning, Fox 29 News’ camera was focusing on the site of one of last night’s shootings. Pulling away in the distance a red SUV, and its driver tossing a wrapper out the window.

Being the ever-so-diligent news group, I think Fox 29 News can spare a copy of a tape from this morning’s Good Day Philadelphia, submit it to the Streets Department and have this litter bug identified and fined.

Looking back, it was easy for New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin to gloat about his city’s cleanliness versus our own: he has Sidney Torres.

Sidney Torres IV is the founder of the waste and debris management company keeping the Big Easy clean, SDT Waste and Debris Services. SDT, based in New Orleans and hired by the city in January, 2007 to manage litter in the French Quarter, has spread across the city, aggressively removing the lower wards’ blight and replacing it with its own mark.

And yes, STD’s mark is everywhere. Trucks bearing the initials and logo rumbled down the streets, rolling 24-hours with crews that moved more like a SWAT team unit than garbage men. Every block featured its brand, whether on trash cans, service vehicles or employees with brooms and power-washers in hand.

But STD takes to the litter issue with more than physical removal; a strong ad campaign can be spotted on billboards and on TV, promoting a responsible attitude for both residents and tourists. The company’s promotions and accomplishments have residents talking and tourists gawking; the city is still rebuilding, and with wards still in dire need of assistance and attention the work is far from over, but STD’s efforts have made a noticeable and unanticipated difference in the wards it does manage. NOLA natives boast about Sidney Torres, as there was no hesitation when asked. One resident pointed out that all trash cans have a customer service number, and, if called, “you only call once, because they move that fast.”

I think it’s that respect for the company that makes it so successful. I can’t remember when I’ve heard similar praise here in Philadelphia – and if Sidney Torres ever wishes to branch north I feel we should certainly entertain the man. After all, he has handled New Orleans remarkably and his company has citizens satisfied, and, and to our chagrin, has given Mayor Nagin the opportunity to gloat.