City of Philadelphia  Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services

SURVEILLANCE CAMERA PROGRAM:

The City of Philadelphia spends over one million of your tax dollars annually to clean up illegal dumping!  Much of the illegal dumping is carried out by our own residents.  The main objective of the Surveillance Camera Program is to provide deterrence to illegal dumping and send a clear message to violators that this activity will not be tolerated in Philadelphia.  We also aim to educate the public on trash enforcement laws and proper disposal options.
Short dumping is the illegal dumping of trash and debris on a city street or vacant lot. These are often 'drive by' trash dumping activities that occur frequently in some areas of the city. Besides the clean up costs, short dumping is a major nuisance which contributes heavily to the overall perception of blight in our city. The Philadelphia Streets Department is responsible for the clean up of illegal dumping found on city streets and sidewalks. The Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services is responsible for the cleanup of illegal dumping found on vacant lots. Please call 311 to report illegal dumping. (If calling 311 by cell phone or from outside the city, please call (215) 686-8686
Today, we are equipped to not only clean up after illegal dumpers, but also identify, locate and prosecute those caught on camera.   In 2009, in collaboration with the Philadelphia Police Department Neighborhood Services Unit, our office began installing surveillance cameras that were used in multiple locations throughout the city to photograph short dumping activity.  The cameras are mobile so they can be easily repositioned from one location to the next.  The images taken by the cameras are used to help locate and prosecute the offenders.  As the program develops, we expect to add additional cameras and clamp down further on short dumping.

FAST FACTS:

• Illegal dumping is a crime in the City of Philadelphia. 
• Since fiscal year 2010, 71 $300 short dumping violations were issued by this program.  There were also 48 arrests of short dumpers carried out by the Philadelphia Police Department Neighborhood Services Unit.
• For the past several years the City of Philadelphia removed tens of millions of pounds of illegally dumped trash and debris from the city.  In fiscal year 2010, the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services removed over 11 million pounds of trash and debris, mostly from abandoned lots.
• Some violators were caught tossing household trash on our streets that would have been picked up anyway by the City's weekly trash collection service.
• According to the Philadelphia Police Department Neighborhood Services Unit, the number one reason violators gave for short dumping household trash was that they did not want to wait for the weekly trash collection service. Most violators who were caught dumping oversized trash and construction materials said they wanted to avoid paying the required disposal fees. 

KNOW WHERE TO LEGALLY DISPOSE OF TRASH & DEBRIS:

City residents can avoid being penalized simply by knowing where to legally dispose of trash and debris.                

•  You can legally dispose of rubbish, recyclables, bulk items or tires at three Sanitation Convenience Centers located in the city.  All locations are open Monday through Saturday, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., except on City holidays.  All trash must be brought inside the Sanitation Convenience Center during regular business hours.  Check the Streets Department website for any restrictions. 
•  If you have oversized trash or construction debris, the Streets Department provides a list of disposal facilities here: Bulk Items and Construction Debris Disposal.
•  Compactable furniture such as sofas, mattresses, box springs etc., can be set out for regular curbside collection, up to two items per week.  

THE ADVANTAGE OF RECYCLING:

Your recycling material is now worth money in your pocket.  Thanks to the Streets Department Recycling Rewards program, instead of short dumping your recycling material, get rewards in the form of redeemable gift cards, gift certificates and coupons. For more information about this program, please visit the Recycling Rewards website:

EXAMPLES OF SHORT DUMPING:

We have provided a few sample photos of short dumpers in action so that the public can see how unnecessary it is and the blight that results from this illegal activity. 

Photos