Bi-monthly trash pickup a part of Plan C

Philadelphia’s doomsday budget clock is ticking closer to implementation, with no word from Harrisburg on when lawmakers will vote on relief legislation.

Philadelphia’s doomsday budget clock is ticking closer to implementation, with no word from Harrisburg on when lawmakers will vote on relief legislation. The city is waiting for Senate approval of a bill that would allow it to raise the sales tax and delay pension payments. But lawmakers are focused on solving their own state budget woes. In the meantime, the city is preparing to send out layoff notices this Friday, and they are already warning residents about service changes.

Listen:
[audio: 090916sptrash.mp3]

If you have a landline, you may have gotten this call from the city.

“…Due to the lack of final budget authority from the state legislature in Harrisburg we regret to advise you that your trash collection may be reduced from every week to every other week…”

The bi-monthly pick up would start Monday, October 5th if Harrisburg fails to move on the sales tax legislation. Carlton Williams is the Deputy Streets Commissioner for sanitation.

Williams: We are concerned about litter, we’re concerned about illegal dumping which is the major concern.

Williams says recycling would continue to be picked up weekly. That’s because its cheaper to process. One silver lining if in fact, the doomsday budget kicks in, officials hope with weekly recycling and biweekly trash pick-up, residents would recycle more.