Philly spring cleaning program tackling alleyways with help from ‘alley gators'

Spring cleaning is underway across Philadelphia and this year the city is expanding its efforts to include alleyways — a longtime trouble spot for trash and illegal dumping.

Crews kicked off the citywide initiative on Monday, May 4 by working in neighborhoods like Frankford and Kensington as part of the annual spring and summer cleaning program, which runs through July 31.

Along Margaret Street in Frankford, crews were out cleaning and clearing debris. The effort is part of a broader push to improve neighborhood conditions while addressing persistent issues like illegal dumping.

City officials say one of the biggest additions this year is a focus on alley cleanup.

Dozens of workers — known as “alley gators” — are being deployed through the Office of Clean & Green Initiatives to target hard-to-reach spaces.

On E Street in Kensington, crews filled multiple bags with weeds and trash as they worked through narrow alleyways.

Residents say those areas are often among the dirtiest.

“The alleyways probably the dirtiest ones. I ain’t gonna lie. We don’t know what be in there,” Kensington resident Victor Harrell said.

Officials say the goal is to clean every reported alley at least once during the program. After that, maintenance will depend on neighbors keeping the spaces clean.

Some residents say they’ve already noticed improvements in their neighborhoods but illegal dumping remains a major frustration.

“I don’t put no trash in the alley and then I see the trash. I have to pick it up,” Kensington resident Maria Roja said.

The city says it is also stepping up enforcement through its dumping task force which combines rapid cleanup with stricter penalties.

So far this year, officials say they’ve identified 113 illegal dumping cases, issued 40 violations and secured 13 judgments totaling more than $900,000.

“We wanna make sure that residents understand if you do see someone illegally dumping there is a process in place,” Carlton Williams, director of the Office of Clean & Green Initiatives said. “We do take action on it. We get information and do investigations to make sure we hold people accountable.”

Residents can report illegal dumping or problem alleyways throughout the year even after the seasonal cleaning program ends.

To request alleyway maintenance, you can click here.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.