CCRA’s Streets Committee is planning a general meeting with representatives of the City of Philadelphia Streets Department’s about initiatives that effect our neighborhood. One of the subject’s to be discussed will be the Big Belly program which has been greatly expanded. An abbreviated description of the program is the following:

• In Center City there were 700 wire baskets in July 2009 that were replaced with approximately 400 BigBelly units.

• As a result of a new 10-year contract the City signed with BigBelly and Green Cities there will be 275 new units with foot pedals and recyclers provided by Green Cities and 125 reconditioned units provided by the City. There will be an advertising contract which also includes cleaning and extended warranty services.

• The Sanitation Division of the Streets Department collects the contents of the units approximately three to four times a week. A communications system notifies the Sanitation Division when a unit is full or has mechanical problems.

• The Streets Department has a limited number of additional units available to place in Center City but will consider CCRA’s recommendations for more units.

The BigBelly program and other Streets Department programs will be discussed in greater detail at the public meeting which be announced in future weekly e-newsletters and emails.