Pittsburgh Mills potholes force cancellation of Hard-to-Recycle event in Frazer

Pittsburgh Mills potholes are causing more problems — this time, the cancellation of a long-running, highly popular recycling event.

The annual Hard-to-Recycle dropoff, hosted in the spring for nearly two decades by the Pennsylvania Resources Council, will not happen this year.

“The condition of the roads there made it unfeasible to return,” said Joshua Schuneman, the council’s collection events manager.

“We worked extremely hard to find an alternative venue but just couldn’t make it work.”

Pittsburgh Mills owner Namdar Realty Group has been the focus of scrutiny for years over the deteriorating condition of the mall roads, which are privately owned.

Frazer is not responsible for the roads, and last year, township officials filed a $4.5 million lawsuit against Namdar that claims the pothole-riddled roads are the result of negligence.

That case is ongoing.

Namdar is also facing public nuisance charges filed April 2 by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office after authorities said the roads cause a public safety hazard.

It briefly appeared that Namdar was addressing the public outcry when a company began patching some of the complex’s potholes in April, but Jessica Jones, president of Patch Management Inc., said her company was never paid.

Namdar did not return calls seeking comment.

The Hard-to-Recycle event in past years has been extremely popular, drawing a line of cars that snaked around the Mills parking lot.

Schuneman said the location is convenient, the service road leading to the mall alleviates bottlenecks and participants have easy access from Route 28.

The Hard-to-Recycle drive gives people a chance to discard TVs, Freon-containing appliances, tires and other items typically not collected by trash haulers for a fee.

Hosted throughout the region, events have collected more than 3.3 million pounds of electronics, more than 12,000 tires, 3,700 appliances and more.

Schuneman said the items are particularly hazardous when left lingering in a landfill.

Tires can be breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and batteries can disintegrate and pollute the soil, air and water “that we all share,” he said.

“It’s important for us to be responsible in disposing of these items.”

The resources council will host similar events around the Pittsburgh region, including Aug. 2 at Elizabeth Forward Middle School; Aug. 23 at Boyce Park; Sept. 27 at Settlers Cabin Park; and Oct. 11 at Quaker Valley School District.

Schuneman said his group would love to return to the Mills, if possible.

“But only if conditions change,” he said.