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.
Comments (2)
While getting a trash can is commendable David will find that it brings more trash not less. People will invariably put there house trash in the recepticle and overflow it with this type of trash and that is exactly what the Streets dept. will say to him when they deny his request. Not sure about this then go to Brtoad St. in the evening and see the overflow at most cans. And these are emptied every night at least. This is beside the point if actually getting people to throw their trash in it.
I'm not sure where David lives but I know it is frustrating to see the trash piling up. I live on 10th st. a few blocks south of the ACME and I sweep my block a couple of times each week providing my own bags. What I do is when a bag gets full in my can in the house once I pull it out I have extra capacity and rather then close it I'll go outside and sweep until it is full. Usually my block isn't so bad so bad since I'm always sweeping it but if the bag isn't full yet I'll move on the the adjoining blocks. I've given up on trying to keep peole fromlittering since it only leads to arguments with the offending litterer. I will make comments to young kids as they may be swayed to not litter with some shame but adults will never change their spots!.
Good luck!!!
Posted by Tommmy D | July 8, 2008 11:03 AM
Posted on July 8, 2008 11:03
I find it both frustrating and consoling to read this post and the response to it. I live near Palumbo Park in Bella Vista, and like David and Tommy D, I pick up every day -- 3-4x a day -- while I'm walking my dog around the Park and the 700 block of S. 9th St. Each week I pick up at least 1-2 40 gallon bags of trash; I've collected as many as 7 bags in a week! In the fall I clean up over 30 large bags of leaves. I also sweep my block at least 1-2x a week, and I -- like Tommy D -- continue around the corner until my bag is full. To David I can only say you are not alone. I've met and heard about a lot of other people who care and keep trying, and that is consoling. But like you, I find it frustrating, and after living in Philadelphia since 1982, I am ready to either move out of the city, or to a condominum where I can pay someone else to be responsible for cleaning up (I've often joked that I should change my name to "Someone Else" -- because it always seems to be "Someone Else's" job to keep the city clean). As for getting a wire basket on your block, I have to second what Tommy D suggests -- you will only have more problems. There is a tremendous amount of illegal dumping in this city. I've found gas cans with gas still in them, old furniture, mattresses, old bikes, and construction materials around Palumbo Park, where there are no trash cans. Give people a trash can and it will be an open invitation for illegal dumping.
I do not understand the widespread apathy about trash and litter in this town. Mayor Nutter seems to be addressing the issue a little, but it seems like even a concerted effort by the city could take years to reverse the prevailing attitude of indifference.
Good luck!
Naz Pantaloni
Bella Vista
Posted by N. Pantaloni | July 16, 2008 7:49 AM
Posted on July 16, 2008 07:49