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City of Philadelphia
Substance use doesn’t occur in a vacuum — it also affects the neighborhoods in which the public sale and use of drugs occur. To address these issues, our Environmental Services team manages public restroom services, several public needle drop boxes, and programs that pick up discarded syringes and clean human waste.
Project Reach is a harm reduction-focused sanitation program that specializes in environmental cleanups in communities affected by substance use. It also manages a “same-day-pay” program to promote clean streets and provide low-barrier employment opportunities for people in the Kensington community.
Our environmental specialists focus on the removal of discarded syringes and other drug-related litter, as well as general trash. They also distribute naloxone (Narcan) and fentanyl test strips, harm reduction educational materials, and help make referrals to services. In 2021, Project Reach filled 7,600 bags of trash.
The Block2Block (B2B) Same Day Pay Program is a sanitation program focused on improving the quality of life in residential communities and recreational spaces affected by the overdose crisis in Kensington.
B2B contributes to extensive efforts that reduce community blight in neighborhoods most affected by substance use. B2B employs community members, compensated at $50 per day for a maximum of 12 days per year, to assist in cleanup efforts, such as safe trash and syringe disposal. They also engage with other community members about substance use, harm reduction and how they can continue clean-up efforts on their block. Community members are trained to use Naloxone (Narcan) and fentanyl test strips and help distribute those in neighborhoods.
The B2B staff includes two certified recovery specialists who connect individuals with employment, housing, food, treatment, and healthcare.
B2B hopes to set an example for other residents and community organizations in Kensington and surrounding communities.
Interested in making a difference in your neighborhood and working with B2B? Contact us by text at (267) 764-9985 or leave a voicemail message. Your message will be returned in time for you to register and meet enrollment requirements.
To promote a clean and safe community, we have installed several freestanding needle drop-boxes in Kensington and adjacent neighborhoods. These boxes are conveniently placed near SEPTA stations and available 24/7 for anyone to safely dispose of needles. In 2021, Project Reach collected over 55,000 needles.
Philadelphians do not have adequate access to public restrooms. This has historically contributed to public health crises, including the 2019 Hepatitis A outbreak, and a general burden on the public. Some Center City businesses allow restroom use without purchases; however, these requests are subjected to stigma and profiling, in addition to the sometimes inconvenient window of business hours. This has resulted in the accumulation of feces on city streets, specifically in Kensington. Our public restroom specialists address biohazard concerns related to human waste and work to expand access to public restrooms. To combat this waste burden, our team is working to design, install, and maintain innovative and permanent bathrooms around the city. In the interim, several temporary structures have been erected:
Kensington
Prevention Point Philadelphia
2913 Kensington Ave. (on the corner of Monmouth Street)
Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Center City
Our public restroom specialists focus on maintaining these facilities, removing biohazards, and improving access to public restrooms. They also engage with community members, distribute harm-reduction supplies, and help connect individuals to services.
To report needles / litter / dumping, call 311.
To promote a clean and safe community, we have installed several freestanding needle drop boxes in Kensington and adjacent neighborhoods. These boxes are conveniently placed near SEPTA stations and available 24/7 for anyone to safely dispose of their needles.
Upon request, the program also installs smaller, wall-mounted needle drop boxes outside of local organizations. To learn how to install a needle box in your community, please contact Cristina Laboy at cristina.laboy@phila.gov or 215-668-5107.
Contact Cristina Laboy at cristina.laboy@phila.gov or 215-668-5107.
The Philadelphia Department of Sanitation operates six sanitation convenience centers where residents can dispose of trash and recyclables that are not able to be collected during regular trash pick-ups. Learn more about center locations and accepted materials.