Trash talk was on the agenda at the Frankford Civic meeting on Thursday. Representatives from the Sanitation Division of the Department of Streets attended the meeting to explain the SWEEP program.
SWEEP is Streets & Walkways Education and Enforcement Program, the City-run program created to educate Philadelphia citizens about their responsibilities under the Sanitation Code. SWEEP enforces the law against violators through intensified street patrols by uniformed litter enforcement officers, computerized tracking of code violation notices, and speedy adjudication of violations. Through education and enforcement, SWEEP supports and enhances individual and community efforts to maintain a clean City.
People know that the Sanitation Enforcement Officers can give you a citation for violations. Sometimes you will get what looks like a citation but says it is a warning. That means you are off the hook that time but they will be back to check up on you.
When do you put out your trash? Trash and recycling should be set out between 7:00 PM the night before collection day and 7:00 AM the day of collection. If you put it out early you can get a ticket. If you do not recycle you may get a ticket. If you let your trash blow all over the street you may get a ticket.
What Can I Recycle?
Metal:
Tin and aluminum cans, empty aerosol cans, empty paint cans
Glass:
Jars and bottles
Mixed Paper:
Newspaper, magazines, mail (junk and personal), phone books, food boxes (remove plastic liner), computer paper, flyers, wrapping paper (no foil or plastic wrap), soda and beer cartons (no food-soiled paper, please!)
Plastic Containers:
Recycle All Household Plastic Containers plus plastic tops and lids!
#1: Soda and water bottles, condiment and peanut butter jars, etc.
#2: Milk, water and juice jugs, detergents, shampoo bottles, dairy product containers, flower pots, some household cleaners
#3: Rigid plastic containers and juice bottles
#4: Plastic tubs and lids from butter, margarine or similar products
#5: Yogurt containers and deli trays
#6: Plastic cups, plates and to-go containers (clear, rigid #6 only, not styrofoam products)
#7: Many mixed plastic containers and plastic products
Cardboard:
Empty and flattened
Proper Containers for Setout
Place all trash in metal or other non-corrodible personal trashcans or sealed plastic bags, filled only to the 40 pound limit. Wood scraps along with tree and brush cuttings shall be cut in pieces small enough to fit in a receptacle for set out.
For recycling, you can use any sturdy plastic or metal container that holds 32 gallons or less and just mark it with the word “RECYCLING” on its side. If one bin is not enough to hold all recyclables, simply add another one.
NOTE: Cardboard boxes may never be used as containers for trash/recycling, regardless of who collects it!
Use your own containers to set out trash. City litter baskets are for pedestrian use only. Do not use them to dispose of your household trash.
Weekly Limits for Trash
- Each single-family household is allowed a maximum of four (4) 32 gallon containers or eight (8) 30 – 32 gallon bags of trash each week
- All other premises are allowed a maximum of six (6) 32 gallon containers or twelve (12) 30 – 32 gallon bags
- The weight limit for a bag or can is 40 lbs. The total weight should not exceed 240 lbs
What the City Does Not Collect
The following refuse may not be set out for curbside collection, but may be taken to a Sanitation Convenience Center:
- Computers, monitors, televisions
- Bulk items, or items that contain significant amounts of metal and are too large to fit in a 32 gallon trash receptacle, such as refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, metal furniture, etc.
- Household Hazardous Waste (Items will only be accepted during Household Hazardous Waste Events).
For information on the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Events, click here
The following refuse is not collected by the City and shall not be set out for collection nor taken to a Sanitation Convenience Center:
- Highly flammable substances, explosive or radioactive materials, toxic or corrosive substances, or otherwise hazardous material which shall be disposed of as prescribed by the Fire and Health Departments.
- Pathological wastes from medical offices and clinics, which shall be disposed of as prescribed by the Health Department.
- Grass trimmings/clippings, which should be mulched into the lawn or collected by private landscaping/collection companies. For more information on Grass-Cycling click here.
- Construction debris.
In other news at the meeting
There are four zoning issues that are pending further investigation and will come up at future meetings.
Pete Specos, President of the Frankford Civic, has met with the new owners of the property at 4691 Hawthorne Street previously housing the T&T bar. The T&T was a nuisance bar and the location of the murder of Frankford resident, Chris Spence. The new owners are looking to use of the property as a grocery but further talks between the Civic and the local residents are scheduled. The is no liquor license and it will not ever be a bar again.
The next meeting of the Frankford Civic Association will be held on March 5th at 7PM at Aria Health.
I suppose that means the city is making all the conscientious homeowners, especially those that live anywhere near a high traffic area such as a transportation hub, be responsible for not only their trash but for all those slobs passing through who don’t know what a public trash can looks like, nor can be bothered using one. Not to mention the trash men who don’t think twice about spilling the trash they are supposed to be cleaning up.
Actually the sanitation enforcement people said that they are well aware of the problem of windblown debris and take pains to make sure you will not be ticketed for it. On the other hand, realistically if something lands on your sidewalk, it will lay there until somebody picks it up. On a windy day, I don’t even bother. On a good day I’ll go up and down the block because whatever is out there will eventually flow in my direction. Why do people drop trash on the sidewalks, let’s just say they are brain deficient.