More than 100 tons of trash and debris removed during yesterday’s cleanup
PHILADELPHIA — As part of the Philadelphia Resilience Project, yesterday the City undertook its first large-scale cleanup on Kensington Avenue. Over four hours, 191 staff from multiple city agencies and 263 volunteers worked to accomplish the goals of the Resilience Project’s Mission Area 4, reducing trash and litter.
Outcomes of the November 1 cleanup include:
- 103 total tons of trash and debris collected
- 90 miles of streets swept through mechanical street sweepers
- 16 illegal dumps were picked up
- 31 water inlets cleaned
- 263 volunteers participated from 31 community groups
- 38 vacant lots cleaned
- 7 doors and windows painted along Kensington Avenue
- 107 properties cleaned of graffiti
- 38 blocks cleaned
- 80 bags collected
- 24 open L&I violations issued
- 7 clean and seals completed on vacant property
The City also announced plans for another cleanup on Saturday, November 10 to continue efforts. The cleanup will be held at 9:00 a.m. starting at Harrowgate Park, 1800 E. Schiller Street.
“The cleanup showcased a core element of our new strategy: bringing people together and working alongside one another to create meaningful change,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “The Philadelphia Resilience Project is a comprehensive plan that not only focuses on reducing trash and litter, but also increasing access to treatment, improving public safety, finding housing for those without shelter, and much more.”
“For far too long, the Kensington community has struggled with quality of life issues that no neighborhood should have to suffer from,” said Managing Director Michael DiBerardinis. “The cleanup is just one more example of the Kenney Administration’s strong commitment to this neighborhood, and demonstrates how public agencies can effectively work together with community residents to bring about positive change.”
“The multi-agency effort sets a new standard for the city’s response to the situation in Kensington and Fairhill, where a citywide crisis creates daily trauma for families in the community,” said Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez. “I appreciate the administration’s continuing investments in safety and cleanliness on the K&A corridor and throughout the neighborhood.”
For high resolution photos of the cleanup, please email Kelly.Cofrancisco@phila.gov.
About the Philadelphia Resilience Project
The Philadelphia Resilience Project is the City of Philadelphia’s emergency response to combat the opioid epidemic. Representatives of 35 City departments, offices, and agencies have been activated to carry out the directives outlined in Mayor Kenney’s Opioid Emergency Response Executive Order 3-18. For progress of the effort, visit www.phila.gov/opioids.