Bill Takes Aim at Philly Trash Issues

City councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown has sponsored a bill that takes aim at the city’s “Filthadelphia” image. It’s a known fact that Philadelphia has a serious litter issue. Sidewalks, vacant lots, alleys, and corners have all become resting spots for trash, sullying the city’s image. Offenders habitually drop their trash, heedless of the detrimental effect they are having on their surroundings and environment. The answer, says Reynolds Brown, is inspired by none other than Walt Disney.

A bill proposed in Philadelphia would put trash in its place – in proper receptacles.

According to legend, Walt Disney studied public trash habits when he was building Disneyland. He discovered that, when trash receptacles were more than 30 feet apart, people were more likely to just dump their trash. For that reason, both Disneyland and Disney World have trash bins close together. The bill proposed in Philadelphia would take a slightly different approach. Any store that sells prepared food, regardless of size, would be required to have a trash receptacle within ten feet of the entrance. That way people who enter a store to buy food will always have a place to dispose of their trash after eating. Stores that do not have a trash receptacle would face fines.

A second bill would also address trash issues. Landlords of apartment buildings with six or more units would be required to provide a dumpster or large trash receptacle so that tenants don’t have to store trash in or around their units until pickup day.

Both bills are on their way to the mayor’s desk, where they are expected to be signed into law.