Philly’s been working towards its clean-and-green goals with citywide cleanups, mechanical street sweeping, and, in certain neighborhoods, twice-a-week trash pickup. But despite these efforts, on trash pick-up days we’re not quite shaking off the “Filthadelphia” moniker.
Here are some additional tips for keeping your trash and recycling from spilling all across your block.
Get a Free Recycling Bin From the City
It’s common to find recycling put in bags or boxes, but those can break apart and dump your recyclables onto the sidewalk. The city provides free bins to residents — pick up one at a sanitation convenience center, with each residence eligible for two each year. Ask for a lid, too, but those may not be available. You can also use a covering of your choosing to keep your bin covered, with zip ties to keep the lid attached to the bin.
Remember the 2-1-5 Rule
Don’t fill your recycling bins to the brim with items that aren’t recyclable. Not all plastics are recyclable under the city’s rules due to the varying methods of processing different plastics. Most household plastics are recyclable, but stick to plastics labeled 1, 2, or 5. These typically include plastic bottles, food containers, and jugs. Putting other plastics into the bin is considered wish-cycling. Just remember our area code to discern if something is recyclable!
Divert Materials Elsewhere
For those pesky items that the city won’t take during regular collection but can still find a second life or be disposed of properly, you can:
- Keep an eye out for the city’s seasonal hazardous materials drop-off events, or check this recycling and donation tool to find a year-round drop-off site.
- Use Rabbit Recycling to drop off items from housewares to electronics.
Consider Composting
If you find yourself regularly tossing organic waste, start composting instead. Certain foods, plant materials, and fibers enrich soil and keep waste from the landfill. You can compost at home, take materials to a community garden, or subscribe to a composting service.
While these individual solutions can make a difference, how our trash and recycling are managed is a larger, systemic problem. We spoke with Nic Esposito, the city’s former zero waste and litter director, to figure out why our streets look worse after trash collection and what solutions the city can implement to improve trash pickup. He also shared ideas we can take from other cities to keep our waste contained, rather than flying into our streets.
