Carlton Williams outlines Philadelphia's multi-agency strategy to combat illegal dumping

The Committee on Streets and Services of the Philadelphia City Council convened on March 4, 2025, to discuss the city’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal dumping and improve overall cleanliness. Carlton Williams, the director of Clean and Green Initiatives, presented a comprehensive overview of the initiatives launched under Mayor Cheryl Parker’s administration.

Williams began by outlining the mayor's vision to make Philadelphia the safest, cleanest, and greenest large city in the nation. He highlighted the establishment of an action plan within the first hundred days of Mayor Parker's term, which focuses on three primary goals: creating a Clean and Green cabinet, addressing persistent quality of life issues, and expanding litter prevention programs.

The Clean and Green cabinet, formed in 2024, has already submitted a report with recommendations aimed at tackling quality of life challenges, which will soon be made public. Williams noted that the Office of Clean and Green has implemented several initiatives funded by the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget, including the launch of the "1 Philly United City" citywide cleanup program. This program, which involves collaboration among various city agencies, has successfully completed over 100,000 quality of life services and will now occur biannually.

Further details revealed that the city has expanded street cleaning efforts, introduced additional trash collection days in densely populated areas, and installed more solar-powered trash cans to reduce litter. Williams reported a nearly 20% decrease in illegal dumping complaints citywide, with a notable 30% reduction in areas where enhanced collection services were introduced.

The meeting also addressed the importance of enforcement in combating illegal dumping. Williams mentioned the installation of over 300 surveillance cameras in known dumping hotspots, with plans to add 100 more this year. These cameras are strategically placed based on data from community complaints and previous cleanup efforts.

In addition to sanitation services, partnerships with organizations like the Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP) and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) have been instrumental in maintaining cleanliness and preventing illegal dumping. CLIP has removed over 180,000 graffiti locations in 2024, while PHS has expanded its land care program to clean 13,000 lots year-round.

The meeting concluded with Williams expressing gratitude for the support from the City Council and the philanthropic community, which has provided significant funding to enhance these initiatives. The collaborative efforts are aimed at making Philadelphia a cleaner and greener city for all residents.