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Report: Illegal dumping costs Philadelphia nearly $9M a year in cleanup efforts

nbcphiladelphia.com · 12h · first reportShare

Illegal dumping costs the City of Philadelphia nearly $9 million each year in cleanup efforts, according to City Controller Christy Brady’s latest monthly Municipal Money Matters report. On Tuesday, Sept. 15, Brady released the latest report, which found that in fiscal year 2025, the city cleaned up nearly 14,000 tons of illegally dumped material. According to officials, a statewide study estimates that it costs $619 per ton to clean up illegally dumped material, including costs associated with equipment operation and the proper disposal of material from illegal dump sites. “Illegal dumping is more than just a neighborhood eyesore, it carries a significant cost for Philadelphia taxpayers,” said Brady. From 2014 to 2025, nearly 210,000 illegal dumping reports were submitted to the city, the report states. The following ZIP codes recorded the highest number of illegal dumping reports over those 11 years. ZIP Neighborhoods Impacted Total Illegal Dumping Reports 19134 Kensington, Juniata P