Waste & Garbage Issues Summary
Waste and garbage issues are a significant global concern due to the immense volumes produced annually from residential, commercial, and industrial sources. Lack of proper waste management can lead to environmental, social, and economic impacts, as inefficient waste management can lead to severe pollution, resource depletion, and health hazards.
Philadelphia, like many major cities, faces significant challenges in managing its waste and garbage. The city’s streets have become notorious for litter and illegal dumping problems, especially in underserved communities, exacerbating environmental injustice. Meanwhile, the city’s waste management systems grapple with high volumes of residential and commercial waste. Despite efforts to improve recycling rates and enforce waste regulations, contamination in recycling bins and inadequate disposal practices exacerbate the issue. Organic waste disposal is another prominent issue in the Philadelphia region, as a significant portion of food waste continues to end up in landfills, contributing to methane emissions and squandering resources that could otherwise support community food security through donation and composting initiatives.
Illegal Dumping
Philadelphia faces issues with illegal garbage dumping, in which littering and its effects have become a public health and equity crisis. Illegal dumping disproportionately affects underserved minority communities, as 7 out of 10 Latino and Black residents as well as those making less than $50,000 per year, ranked illegal dumping as a top issue in a recent poll1. Over the past two years, the Streets Department has reported that more than 13,000 tons of illegal waste have been dumped on thousands of sites spread throughout poor neighborhoods, burying them in construction debris from housing renovations, used tires from auto shops, and discarded household furnishings, much of it the result of evictions1. In these communities, illegal dumping has become a safety crisis, as the collection of garbage attracts rats, cockroaches, and other vermin. Illegal dumping is an equity issue, as the neighborhoods hit hardest tend to be areas with an abundance of vacant lots and less lighting and foot traffic than wealthier areas. City data show that Strawberry Mansion, Kensington, Cobbs Creek, and Southwest Philadelphia have become dumping destinations for businesses looking to skirt waste disposal fees. Litter can also accumulate simply due to negligence, particularly in these underserved areas of the city, which are not regularly maintained to the degree that wealthier neighborhoods are. Litter pollutes not only streets but also finds its way into waterways, affecting all areas of the city. In underserved neighborhoods particularly, the accumulation of trash makes these neighborhoods less desirable. The negligence within these particular neighborhoods links back to Philadelphia’s history of housing discrimination through redlining.
Sorting Issues
Every day, an unknown percentage of recycling is dumped into trash landfills each day. Following the 2019 discovery that Philadelphia deposited at least half of its recycling in an incinerator, the city pledged to continue recycling — even as the cost increased2. However, the COVID-19 pandemic complicated this goal, adding operational challenges to the existing economic ones. The Pandemic created a 30% increase in trash due to residents working from home and led to a decrease in sanitation personnel as some contracted the virus2. Everything is collected separately as recycling gets processed at the Waste Management Recycling Plan in Northeast Philadelphia, however, when trash and recycling are collected together, they both get deposited to landfills.
Stakeholders
There are several groups, institutions, agencies, and organizations focusing on waste and garbage related issues. Philadelphia residents in general can be considered a stakeholder group, particularly those in underserved communities that are disproportionately affected by illegal dumping and littering. Business owners are also a relevant stakeholder group, as litter by a storefront can affect a store’s sales, or even discourage a business from moving into a community altogether3. The city Department of Streets is also relevant to this issue, as this is the department responsible for picking up trash and recycling and maintaining clean streets. Sanitation Personnel are also a prominent stakeholder, as they are responsible for sorting through garbage and recycling, and a high volume of waste becomes difficult to manage when sanitation facilities are short staffed.
Food Waste Organizations
Some relevant organizations in terms of redistributing surplus food waste are Circular Philadelphia, The Sharefood Program, and Sharing Excess. Some organizations focused on eliminating food waste altogether are the Sustainable Business Network and the NRDC’s Food Matters Program. The Philadelphia Office of Sustainability also has launched an Eat Away at Food Waste campaign, which shares tips and resources for households and businesses to prevent and manage food waste. Additionally, there are several businesses, organizations, and institutions involved with Philadelphia’s Zero Waste Partnership.
Plastic Bag Ban
On April 1st, 2022, a single use plastic bag ban went into affect for all retailers in Philadelphia. All Philly retailers that offer bags at checkout, or use them to deliver their products, must adhere to the law. It is stated that the size of the business does not matter, and if the business gives customers bags to carry food, clothing, or any product for sale, they need to comply with the plastic bag ban4. Now, two years after the ban’s implementation, the Mayor’s Office released an independent study to evaluate the success of the ban: “Evaluating the Ban: Philadelphia’s Plastic Bag Ban and Changes in Bag Usage in the City,” and it shows some significant progress. According to the report, the percentage of shoppers that used at least one plastic bag while grocery shopping has dropped from 64% before the ban to 4% post ban5.
Organic Waste & Composting Initiatives
Nationwide 50% of the garbage is compostable, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). But unlike San Francisco, Portland, or Seattle, Philadelphia doesn’t have a citywide pick up program, as it does for recycling or trash6. According to the Department of Streets, an average household in Philadelphia throws away 20 pounds of food waste a month. Every ton diverted from landfill saves the city $40 in tipping, or disposal, fees. Sending food to the landfill is not only expensive, it also releases methane into the atmosphere7. This is why composting has become an important initiative in Philadelphia for organic waste disposal. Through the Farmphilly composting network, there are numerous community gardens and urban farms where residents can dispose of organic waste. Additionally, Philadelphia Parks & Rec also operates the Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center where residents can get free compost, mulch, and woodchips. There are currently three main composting centers in Philadelphia: Bennett Compost, Philly Compost, and Circle Compost. Bennett Compost collects food waste from 1,500 households and 40 restaurants7.
The Philadelphia Water Department also recycles food waste, turning it into energy and fertilizer7. In January 2016, a law was enacted that newly constructed residential buildings in Philadelphia must have a food waste grinder. Additionally, business owners are required to dispose of food waste in garbage disposals or arrange for private collection of organic waste to be composted, broken down through anaerobic digestion, or used as farm livestock feed7.
Zero Waste & Litter Cabinet
In 2020, Mayor Jim Kenney created the Zero Waste and Litter Cabinet with a radical goal of reducing litter and waste by 90% by 2035. Kenney created the litter office, headed by director Nic Esposito, at the end of 2016 to coordinate cleaning efforts across city agencies, businesses, and other community groups. The cabinet created a ‘litter index”, mapping litter levels across the city and issued a city-wide plan to reduce illegal dumping, litter, and waste in general. The cabinet worked on bills to reduce illegal dumping and plastic waste and started the city’s first urban composting facility.8
Litter Fines
Philadelphia used to consider illegal dumping to be a minor criminal offense. However, it is now treated as a misdemeanor, raising fines to upwards of $5,000. Individuals caught illegally dumping may also have their vehicles confiscated in accordance with city regulations and be responsible for the costs of cleanup. Under Pennsylvania law, those convicted could face up to six months in jail1. Increasing the severity of penalties for these actions will hopefully lead to a decrease in illegal dumping.
Setbacks
In Philadelphia, waste management faces several significant setbacks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, recycling contamination, regulatory gaps, and lack of enforcement. Philadelphia is still dealing with the effects of an increase in litter and a decrease in staffing during the pandemic, which ultimately hindered litter reduction initiatives for a few years. Recycling efforts are undermined by contamination, which complicates the sorting and reprocessing of materials, reducing the overall effectiveness and efficiency of recycling programs. Additionally, while homeowners can compost in their backyards, and the Department of Environmental Protection regulates municipal and on-farm composting, there is no regulatory framework for commercial composting within the city. This regulatory void leaves businesses in a challenging position, because without a license, they can’t get loans or raise money, essentially putting any desired composting initiatives on hold7. Enforcement issues further complicate waste management, particularly with the plastic bag ban. The city depends on citizens to report violations via Philly311, but compliance is low, partly because customers often refrain from reporting businesses they frequent, mistakenly believing that some, like food trucks, are exempt. A PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center report from November 2023 revealed that 84% of food trucks surveyed were not complying with the ban, highlighting the widespread challenges in enforcing and adhering to waste reduction policies5. Lack of enforcement and regulation also continue to be a problem when it comes to addressing litter, especially in underserved communities, where illegal dumping is not treated with the same urgency as it is within wealthier neighborhoods.
Sustainability
Philadelphia aims to reach a lofty goal of being zero waste by 2035. Citywide policy initiatives for waste management and litter reduction have increased, but Philadelphia still has some ways to go. To better waste centered sustainability initiatives, Philadelphia would need to implement a framework for commercial composting, and increase regulations controlling illegal dumping particularly in underserved neighborhoods. The city could increase initiatives to reduce littering by expanding solid waste and recycling infrastructure, and educating residents, particularly schoolchildren, who are just starting to form their trash-disposal habits. Waste and garbage issues are a social justice issue, so in order for Philadelphia’s management of waste to be truly sustainable, efforts would need to focus on low income neighborhoods just as much as higher income neighborhoods. Composting initiatives at community gardens hones the values of sustainability, as organic waste is directly put toward the cultivation of healthy farm grown food. Moving forward, Philadelphia should aim to increase composting efforts and strengthen regulations on littering, illegal dumping, and plastic bags.
Assets
- Bennett Compost
- Address: 151 W. Oxford Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122
- Circle Compost
- As Circle Compost primarily operates through pickups and deliveries, they don’t list a specific public-facing address. It’s best to contact them directly for service specifics.
- Mother Compost
- Similar to Circle Compost, Mother Compost offers services based on pickups and doesn’t have a fixed address open to the public. Contact them directly for more information.
- Philly Compost
- Philly Compost also focuses on a service model that doesn’t necessarily require a public address. Check their website or contact them for how they operate.
- Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center
- Address: 3850 Ford Road, Philadelphia, PA 19131
References
4Bryant, Michael, and Michelle Myers. 2022. “Everything you need to know about Philadelphia’s plastic bag ban.” Philadelphia Inquirer. https://www.inquirer.com/philly-tips/plastic-bag-ban-philadelphia-enforcement.html.
7Jaramillo, Catalina. 2017. “Composting in Philadelphia: Where we are and where we are going.” WHYY. https://whyy.org/articles/composting-in-philadelphia-where-we-are-and-where-we-are-going/.
8Jaramillo, Catalina. 2020. “Philly mayor cuts anti-litter initiative amid coronavirus budget crunch.” WHYY. https://whyy.org/articles/mayor-jim-kenney-kills-anti-litter-initiative-amid-coronavirus-budget-crunch/.
5Kane, Dawn. 2024. “Philly’s plastic bag ban has not been perfect, but it has significantly changed business and consumer behavior.” Grid Magazine. https://gridphilly.com/blog-home/2024/01/01/phillys-plastic-bag-ban-has-not-been-perfect-but-it-has-significantly-changed-business-and-consumer-behavior/.
3Kent, Maggie. 2019. “Building It Better Together: How did Philly’s reputation get trashed? – 6abc Philadelphia.” 6ABC. https://6abc.com/building-it-better-together-philadelphia-litter-trash-philly/5397430/.
1Klusener, Anton. 2023. “Everyone in Philly knows illegal dumping is a problem. But for many Black, brown, and low-income residents, it’s a crisis.” Philadelphia Inquirer. https://www.inquirer.com/news/lenfest-institute-for-journalism-ssrs-poll-illegal-dumping-top-priority-black-latino-low-income-20230329.html.
6Kummer, Frank, and Michelle Myers. 2023. “Guide to composting in Philadelphia: where to go, what to compost, and more.” Philadelphia Inquirer. https://www.inquirer.com/philly-tips/how-to-compost-philadelphia-suburbs-gardening.html#loaded.
2Lowenkron, Hadriana. 2021. “Philadelphia still dumping trash with recycling, frustrating residents.” WHYY. https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-still-dumping-trash-with-recycling-frustrating-residents/.