City of Philadelphia Announces Twice a Week Trash Collection in South Philadelphia and Center City

Philadelphia - Today, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker announced another significant step toward making Philadelphia the Safest, Cleanest and Greenest big city in the nation with the launch of the Twice-Weekly Trash Collection Program. This effort, developed in partnership with the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives and the Department of Sanitation, aims to enhance waste management and improve neighborhood cleanliness across the city.

Phase I of the program officially launched on Monday, December 2, 2024, and will serve residents within the boundaries of Callowhill Street to Pattison Avenue, between the Schuylkill Expressway (30th Street) and Delaware Avenue. Phase 2 of the program will expand to more areas in Fall 2025.

"We are continuing to expand Clean and Green initiatives thanks to intergovernmental and interagency collaboration," stated Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. "Under the tremendous leadership of Director Carlton Williams and Sanitation Commissioner Crystal Jacobs Shipman, the City has cleaned almost 40,000 city blocks and neighborhood commercial corridors and that number continues to grow daily. We will not stop until we've got rid of the filthy moniker 'Filthadelphia' once and for all!"

These boundaries were selected to launch twice-weekly collections due to their high population density, numerous multi-family residences, and limited waste storage capacity. Limited storage options in the area have historically led to challenges such as illegal dumping and searching for alternative trash disposal methods, underscoring the need for this targeted effort. The selected boundaries also align with the Sanitation Department's current fleet capabilities, as acquiring and delivering new trucks typically requires 18-24 months.

"The Office of Clean and Green Initiatives is excited to support Mayor Parker's vision of creating a government that residents can see, touch and feel," said Carlton Williams, Director of the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives. "Over the years, we have seen an increase in residential illegal dumping. Implementing twice-per-week trash collections will help reduce this issue. We recognize that some areas of the city have limited storage space, and more frequent pickups will help to relieve the burden of storing trash inside homes."

Residents within these boundaries may set out up to eight bags, four containers, and two compactable household items per collection. Recycling services will remain once a week, with recyclables collected only on the first trash day of the week. Mixing recyclables with trash during the second collection is prohibited, and fines will be issued for violations. Additionally, there will be no second collection during City-observed holiday weeks.

"The Department of Sanitation spends nearly $1.5 million each year cleaning up illegally dumped material," said Crystal Jacobs Shipman, Commissioner, Department of Sanitation. "Twice-a-week trash collections provide a more convenient trash solution for residents, besides taking their materials to a Sanitation Convenience Center or setting trash on city corners and vacant lots."

The schedule for the twice-a-week collection is as follows:

The Twice-Weekly Collections Program, Citywide Cleaning Program, and District Residential Program are initiatives advanced through the $477 million invested in clean and green initiatives as part of Mayor Parker's One Philly Budget approved in June by City Council.