Philadelphia residents in North Philly will soon see their streets cleaner as the city rolls out a twice‑weekly trash collection program. The move comes after the city’s South‑Philly pilot already cut illegal dumping by 19 percent.
The Initiative
Mayor Cherelle Parker’s “clean and green” agenda now includes a $19 million program overseen by Carlton Williams, director of the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives. “Residents can expect having multiple days throughout the week, which limits their ability to have to store it someplace, and they can legally get rid of it without it becoming a dumping problem throughout the city,” Williams said.
Williams’ office has mapped out hot spots across the city where litter piles up. Red‑marked areas on the map show the highest concentrations of trash, guiding the placement of the new collection schedule.
Results in South Philadelphia
The twice‑weekly schedule launched in South Philadelphia earlier this year. Since then, the city has documented a 19 percent reduction in illegal dumping cases, Williams noted. “We want to have a truck come through that route and pick that trash up before you have to think about what I’m gonna do with it,” he said. “Do I have to put it out back? Am I gonna put it out early? Am I gonna put it at the corner? Now, we’re gonna come and collect it, and now it’s not gonna become a trash problem any longer.”
Community Voices
Shayam Jalali, a resident of Fishtown, shared his observations: “Definitely trash out for days at a time,” he said. “Yeah, I’m not sure if that’s just because people don’t know what days the trucks are coming, or if they’re just putting things out early, but there definitely is a lot of garbage on the street at times.”
Not everyone agrees that twice‑weekly pickup is necessary. Hansen, speaking on behalf of smaller households, said, “We have a smaller household, so we don’t accumulate that much trash,” and added, “So, yeah, we have no problem with the current once a week schedule.”
Next Steps and Expansion
The program will begin in North Philadelphia on January 5, 2026. After that, city officials plan to expand the twice‑weekly schedule to other parts of the city. “We know we have a long way to go. We want this to be the norm, and not the exception,” Williams said. “So, we want people to be able to walk out the street and not talk about how dirty any part of the city is any longer. We want people to just see it as a normal part of life, because everybody deserves a clean and safe community no matter where you live in the City of Philadelphia.”
Key Takeaways
- The twice‑weekly trash collection program starts in North Philadelphia on Jan. 5, 2026.
- The South‑Philly pilot cut illegal dumping by 19 percent and is funded by a $19 million initiative.
- Residents and officials have mixed views on the need for more frequent pickup, but the city aims to make clean streets the norm.
Philadelphia’s effort to curb illegal dumping reflects a broader push toward a greener, cleaner city, with residents hoping the new schedule will keep streets free of litter and improve everyday life for all neighborhoods.
