New trash bins on Germantown Avenue

Posted 1/23/25

Around 2009, Mt. Airy was the first Philadelphia neighborhood outside of Center City to receive “BigBelly” trash cans, according to Janis Risch, the executive director of the Mt. Airy Business improvement district. 

The BigBellies use Wi-Fi to send updates to the Department of Sanitation on their mechanical condition and capacity. They also use solar power to self-compact material, allowing for more storage. The new ones also feature new cigarette receptacles. 

In December, the now older BigBellies were replaced with newer models along Germantown Avenue in Chestnut …

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New trash bins on Germantown Avenue

Posted

Around 2009, Mt. Airy was the first Philadelphia neighborhood outside of Center City to receive “BigBelly” trash cans, according to Janis Risch, the executive director of the Mt. Airy Business improvement district. 

The BigBellies use Wi-Fi to send updates to the Department of Sanitation on their mechanical condition and capacity. They also use solar power to self-compact material, allowing for more storage. The new ones also feature new cigarette receptacles. 

In December, the now older BigBellies were replaced with newer models along Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy, Germantown and other commercial corridors throughout the city. The newer models feature a foot pedal, allowing users to throw away their trash without having to touch the handle. 

“They had outlived their expected life, and getting them replaced has been a priority issue of the city wide alliance of business improvement districts. We included it in a pilot and a policy priority. It was shared with all of the mayoral candidates. It was shared again with the Parker transition team,” Risch told the Local. “We advocated for it again at our annual meeting that was attended by Mayor Parker. So we were thrilled to see them replaced soon afterward.” 

Mayor Cherelle Parker made the issue of cleaning up the city a highlight of her recent winning campaign. She has pledged to make Philadelphia "the Safest, Cleanest, Greenest big city in the nation."

While Germantown United CDC was not a primary organizer in getting the bins installed in Germantown, their Executive Director Leo Dillinger said that they “are definitely grateful to have the new can installations along the corridor.” 

“While I hope this effort reduces the amount of litter on our streets, we still need our residents and visitors to the neighborhood to be mindful and actively use them in order for them to be effective. Holding onto trash for an extra block and putting it in a can versus tossing it right on the ground makes all the difference in keeping Germantown clean,” Dillinger told the Local.