Philly trash-control measure appears to be in the bag

Litter is one of the perennial complaints in Philadelphia. A city councilwoman thinks she has a solution, and chances look good for its passage.

Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown says the key is ensuring people pass by a place to dispose of their trash before they drop it on the street. A bill she has sponsored demands many businesses put out public trash cans.

“Restaurants, in particular, corner stores, especially, will now be required to have a trash receptacle and a recycling bin outside their establishment,” she said. “Because if we accept the Disneyland theory, it ends up on the corner.”

Brown referred to an analysis that theme park visitors would take 30 steps before letting trash fall to the ground.

“So when you go to a Disney park, most trash cans are no more than 30 steps apart,” she has said. “It is simple, but makes so much sense.”

The bill also mandates apartment complexes of 10 or more units make trash cans available.

“We’ve discovered that there are landlords who do not have trash receptacles on the premises for their residents,” Brown said. “And we know that contributes to litter and a number of other environmental issues as well.”

Mayor Michael Nutter is expected to sign the bill since it was amended to deal with administration concerns.