Agreement in works for Allegheny CleanWays to access a whopping 973 illegal dumpsites in Pittsburgh

After assessing and cleaning up some of the nearly 1,000 illegal dumping sites in Pittsburgh over the last decade, the nonprofit Allegheny CleanWays is in the process of inking an agreement with the city to formalize its access to city sites.

The Pittsburgh Mayor’s Office and Department of Public Works on Tuesday announced the proposed legislation that will permit Allegheny CleanWays to remove litter and illegally dumped materials from city-owned properties.

The proposal was referred to city council’s Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and will likely be brought to a full council vote on Tuesday, Sept. 8, said Molly Onufer, a spokeswoman for Mayor Bill Peduto.

Allegheny CleanWays, a local nonprofit with a cadre of volunteers who clean up illegal dumps and litter, has had informal arrangements to go onto city property for cleanups. But the proposed legislation makes it easier for the nonprofit to enter city property and properly dispose of litter and debris.

“This formalizes the process and makes it easier for us, and gives us longevity for when public works supervisors and mayors leave,” said Myrna Newman, executive director of Allegheny CleanWays.

As the city owns thousands of abandoned and blighted properties, Allegheny CleanWays has been assessing and cleaning up many sites that can be difficult for city workers to access, Newman said.

Missy Rosenfeld, the City of Pittsburgh’s environmental enforcement coordinator, said, “In our work on the seemingly unending problems of litter and illegal dumping, we know that Pittsburgh is uniquely reliant on volunteer efforts to keep our streets, alleys, lots, and waterways clean.”

There are still hundreds of illegal dump sites left for what is a chronic and nuanced problem, Newman said.

Access is key to getting rid of unwanted household items as well as cost and lack of information on disposal options, she said.

The Clean Pittsburgh Commission is working on solutions, Newman noted, saying, “that doesn’t happen overnight, but we are working on it.”

It’s important not to point the finger at people and communities, because sometimes outsiders will come to a blighted site and dump items.

“We need to make it easier to people to do the right thing,” Newman said.

City officials plan to update the city code to impose higher penalties for people who illegally dump and to change language in the codes to better match what’s in the field: construction and demolition waste, tires, TVs, furniture, appliances, shopping carts, and more.

Since 2000, Allegheny CleanWays have organized more than 14,000 volunteers for the removal of more than 30,000 tires and over 1,700 tons of debris within city limits.

Residents looking to report illegal dumping can call 311 or by contact Allegheny CleanWays, which is always looking for volunteers for year-round cleanups in the city.