We can prevent illegal dumping and increase recycling in Philly.
With illegal dumping on the rise throughout Philadelphia, haulers must be held accountable for dumping on communities. But we must admit that we can’t clean up or arrest our way out of the problem. There is a better way.
As part of Circular Philadelphia’s policy development process, the Built Environment Working Group has developed this flyer that explains to the public in a simple and straightforward way how we can cut down on illegal dumping by utilizing the City’s six public sanitation convenience centers to allow haulers to recycle small loads of construction and demolition waste. In time, the working group will turn the below information into a white paper that will examine the information in depth, develop potential policy and strengthen the case as to why Philadelphia legislators need to address this issue.
Did You Know?
The average minimum fee at private construction debris landfills and recycling centers is $100 even for haulers using small pickup trucks with less than a ton? Did you also know that it costs the City of Philadelphia $619 per ton to clean up illegal dumping?
The Policy Concept
– 1 –
Use the existing construction and demolition recycling contract the City already has in place to put construction and demolition (C&D) debris RECYCLING dumpsters from that company at sanitation convenience centers.
– 2 –
Allow vehicles no larger than a pick-up truck or van to dispose of C&D debris (with the exception of concrete rubble) in the C&D recycling dumpsters at the sanitation centers.
– 3 –
Train sanitation convenience center workers to use a point of sale system to charge the dumpers a flat fee of $30 per dump.
– 4 –
Offset the City of Philadelphia’s costs to service the dumpsters through the contract with the collection of this fee, making this mostly a cost neutral policy.
Why This Is Possible and Can Be Successful:
It’s Already Happening:
The Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center currently allows contractors to drop off organic debris for a fee and also pick up mulch and wood chips for a fee. Trained employees use a point of sale system to run this program.
This Is Cost Neutral:
Even if the $30 fee doesn’t fully cover the total cost of disposal through the construction recycling contract, the difference will be far less than the amount of money the City spends cleaning up illegal dumping.
It Creates Economic Opportunity:
This policy will open up new entrepreneurial opportunities for small-scale haulers to capture and recycle debris from demolition sites and renovation sites, which the City is encouraging and incentivizing over full demolition.
Get Involved!
But to make this flyer become real policy, we need to hear from you! Please fill out this form to voice your support for this legislation, get on our mailing list for future action and leave a comment with your thoughts or questions on the proposed legislation and information.
Let’s stop illegal dumping and increase recycling in Philly together!
Voice your support and feedback for this issue.
Please use this form to voice your support for this legislation, get on our mailing list for future action and send us your thoughts and comments on the proposed legislation and information.