City passes trash removal fee for businesses

Any small business or multi family dwelling will have to pay 150 dollars a year for trash removal under the new plan.

Philadelphia City Council has approved a charge on multi-family dwellings and small businesses – forcing them to pay for trash removal.

Any small business or multi family dwelling will have to pay 150 dollars a year for trash removal under the new plan.  Philadelphia City Councilman Frank DiCicco says it’s all part of an effort to balance the streets department budget.

DiCicco: We understood there was a seven plus million dollar hole in the streets department budget for trash collection these are difficult times for everyone and we understood the need to
make up for that shortfall.

DiCicco says the city spreads out the charge from just small businesses to multi-family dwellings because those homeowners owners are running their own business by collecting rent.  He says they should bear some of the trash removal costs just as other city businesses have to do.  The bill is set to be implemented by next spring.