PHILADELPHIA – Mayor Jim Kenney and the Streets Department announced today the launch of PickupPHL, a new public-facing, interactive tool designed to provide direct access to the City’s residential sanitation services. PickupPHL is an interactive web map that allows residents to view and track the status of daily trash and recycling collections. The new online platform will go live on October 1, 2020.
“Clean and safe streets are one of our residents’ top priorities,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “With PickupPHL residents now have almost real-time access to track trash and recycling collections. This new tool further demonstrates our Administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability in City services.”
PickupPHL enables users to view the progress of trash and recycling collections by providing direct access to the Sanitation Division’s truck routing system. For the first-time the public is able to see the daily progress of the Streets Department’s residential collection routes. PickupPHL allows users to view and track residential collections for trash and recycling, determine if a block has been visited by a trash, recycling or both trucks and identify where collections are taking place daily.
“PickupPHL is the City’s first data-driven tool that focuses on residential trash and recycling collections,” said Michael Carroll, Deputy Managing Director for Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability. “PickupPHL supports the Administration’s goal to provide the public greater access to data. It furthers the Streets Department’s mission for clean, green and safe streets by using technology to advance its services.”
Residents can find out the status of trash and recycling collections on their block by entering their address, which is then geo-coded and pinpointed directly on the map. PickupPHL provides color-coded information showing the date and time when the trash and recycling trucks visited their block. Residents will also be able to view current updates on trash and recycling collections and a submit a report directly to 311 through the platform.
“The Streets Department recognizes delays in trash and recycling collections have a significant impact throughout the city, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams. “PickupPHL was created to help residents check collection status in almost real-time and provide a user-friendly and practical interface to put information directly in the hand of residents.”
By displaying near real-time collection status, PickupPHL allows residents to view and monitor when a truck will be on and near their block. The map is refreshed every 30 to 60 minutes with updated information from GPS devices mounted on the sanitation vehicles.
PickupPHL is the third component of the Streets Department’s StreetSmartPHL platform. PavePHL, PermitPHL, PickupPHL and PlowPHL provide direct access to the department’s core services, and connects users to real-time information related to permits, paving, snow plowing, and trash and recycling collections. The site is in its beta phase, so feedback and suggested improvements on the site is encouraged. To access the site, residents can visit StreetSmartphl.phila.gov.