Covid’s Impacts Cause Stinky Trash to Pile High in Philly

Count Philadelphia’s waste collection crisis as the latest ill effect of the coronavirus pandemic.

Since COVID-19 began infecting large numbers of Philadelphians in mid-April, homebound residents have been generating more waste than usual — 30% more, according to city Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams’s estimate.

At the same time, garbage collection workers have been missing work in large numbers. Some of them have been infected by the virus. Others have been exposed to it, and so have had to self-quarantine.

As a result, residential garbage collection in the city has fallen progressively further behind schedule. Mayor Jim Kenney’s office says collection delays range from two to four days. Councilman Brian O’Neill says it’s more like five days.

O’Neill is pressuring Kenney to hire outside waste companies to help alleviate some of the collection delays. Kenney, known as a labor-friendly mayor, appears to be resisting that approach, likely because he believes that such a move would likely be painted as a union-busting tactic.

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