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Council reviews ordinance to place city 'hotspot' litter cans outside convenience stores
Summary
Harrisburg's public works committee reviewed Bill 4 of 2026 to authorize designated litter receptacles outside convenience stores and bodegas, citing a successful Allison Hill pilot and an enforcement scheme tied to the municipal waste code; rollout is planned for late spring with existing budgeted cans.
Harrisburg City Council's Public Works Committee reviewed Bill 4 of 2026 on a proposal to authorize the placement of city‑designated litter receptacles outside convenience stores and bodegas identified as "hotspots." Councilman Rodriguez said the bill aligns with the city's comprehensive plan and the Pennsylvania Litter Action Plan.
The ordinance would add a definition for convenience stores and bodegas and authorize the city to designate locations for orange‑lidded "hotspot" cans. "My hope is moving forward, we can integrate and amend this living document known as the comprehensive plan to reflect this litter mitigation," Councilman Rodriguez said.
Public Works staff described a six‑month pilot on Allison Hill along Dair Street (13th to 19th streets) in which orange‑lidded cans were placed and used by passersby. "There used to be old cobblestone cans around the city; they were very outdated," said Director West, explaining that the newer lids reduced theft and encouraged use. Staff said the pilot showed the cans increased proper disposal and reduced heavy debris on streets.
Solicitor Grover told council the ordinance incorporates penalties into the municipal waste code and cross‑references existing health‑code litter penalties. "If a violation would be a violation of either the litter provision in health or this, it's the penalties in this provision that will apply," Grover said, describing staged penalties that escalate with repeat offenses.
Operationally, public works will begin with once‑a‑week pickups and monitor usage by location, maintaining a six‑month spreadsheet tracking collection frequency and volumes. Staff told council the cans are already budgeted for this year and no additional appropriation is needed to begin the roll‑out.
Council members asked for photographs and outreach materials to explain to store owners and residents what the new cans will look like; staff agreed to supply images for the city's website. Councilman Rodriguez said the city aims for a late‑spring to early‑summer rollout and will report monitoring data back to council.
The committee voted to place Bill 4 on the next legislative agenda for a formal vote.
