The first Philly Spring Cleanup day in 2008 was the largest one day cleanup in US history. Since then the event has grown exponentially and cleaned up 4.5 million pounds of trash—enough trash to fill the Eagle’s stadium 13’ high. Last year, 231 cleanup sites on 763 city blocks were cleaned by 11,313 volunteers. This year 200 sites on over 900 neighborhood blocks, 30 parks, and five schools will be cleaned.
Part of the Cleanup’s success stems from the Nutter administration’s dedication to improving quality of life. (When noting his excitement at a site coordinator’s meeting, Mayor Nutter said, “If I were any more excited, we’d have a Pointer sister in here.”) Litter, the mayor explained, is a mindset that reflects how individuals feel about themselves, their neighborhoods, and their city. Litter decreases our property value and discourages economic development. It is also costly: it costs the City of Philadelphia $65/ton of trash sent to a landfill. By contrast, the city earns $55/ton of recycling.
Recycling has been on the mayor’s agenda since he took office. Recycling is important because it pays. It pays residents back in taxes collected for trash hauling and in rewards points for curbside recycling. Philadelphia’s Recycling Rewards program, RecycleBANK pays residents by way of discounts and coupons to retailers like Coca-Cola, Kashi, Dole, Shop Rite, Subway, Dunkin Donuts, and Philly Car Share. Beyond these rewards, there is the ultimate reward of cleaner, safer communities.
Research has shown the clean streets and cleaner communities are safer places to live. Clean, safe communities encourage economic development and increase property values. In short, clean communities lead to great cities.
It will take consistent and regular dedication on the part of elected officials and residents or, as the mayor states, we should put at least as much time into maintaining our sidewalks and stoops as we do our personal grooming.
