University City's Litter Co. Clean Up Day Nets 3.5 Tons of Trash

Philadelphia, PA (22 April 2002) A University City-wide clean up day Saturday, April 20th, removed more than 7,200 pounds of food wrappers, furniture, tires, and construction debris from more than 40 blocks. This was the first event of University City District's new anti-litter campaign launched April 3rd. More than 350 Anti-Litter Coalition volunteers from Powelton Village to Walnut Hill picked up litter, swept sidewalks, and removed trash from vacant lots. The Litter Co. Clean Up Cavalcade van visited groups with water, fruit, and granola bars donated by 7-11 and University Thriftway. The van also circulated two massage therapists from Bodyworks by Diane to keep workers refreshed. All day during the event, volunteers added their signatures to the Litter Co. pledge to "Kick Litter in the Can."

University City District provided free trash bags, work gloves, extra help with big items, and removal of the trash collected. In the end, UCD public space maintenance staff tabulated that in addition to 3.5 tons of litter, they removed 10 tires, 2 rugs, 2 mattresses, 3 trucks of discarded wood, almost a full truck of concrete chunks, and a thrown-away set of patio furniture.

While adults were cleaning, approximately 40 Lea Elementary School> students painted an outdoor mural guided by staff from the Department of Recreation's Mural Arts Program. According to Jane Golden, MAP's artistic director, this work is the city's 2,663rd mural.

The University City District launched Litter Co., the "Anti-Litter Coalition," as an alliance of community leaders, residents, elected officials, kids, parents, students, employees, and neighborhood associations who have signed the pledge to educate, advocate, and practice keeping University City litter-free.

This summer, UCD and its agency fabGORGON will work on other events and outdoor advertising to begin in September. The next University City Litter Co. Clean Up Day is scheduled for October.

Celebrating its fifth year of operation, University City District builds effective partnerships to maintain a clean and safe environment and to promote, plan, and advocate for University City's diverse urban community. The UCD's programs to improve streetscapes and parks, remove trash and graffiti, provide technical assistance to home- and business owners, increase public safety, and publicize University City's advantages have improved the quality of life since 1997.

Release Date: Monday, April 22nd 2002