The Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Capitol Hill Business Improvement District (BID) kicked off a recycling pilot that will place receptacles on six commercial streets located throughout Capitol Hill. The event was held Wednesday, June 11, in front of the new Harris Teeter supermarket at 1350 Potomac Avenue, SE (at the corner of 13th Street & Pennsylvania Ave.).
The initiative will target busy commercial areas where significant amounts of recyclable materials are being deposited in trash receptacles and entering the waste stream. The recycling receptacles will look similar to the current public trash cans, but will have a special lid with signage indicating they are for recycling only. The containers will accept paper, aluminum cans, and plastic and glass bottles.
“As the nation’s capital, we get an extraordinary amount of foot traffic and want to provide pedestrians with the opportunity to recycle as much as possible,” said DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr. “This public space recycling effort will require an enormous effort from both DPW and the Capitol Hill BID and we are eager to join the very few major cities in the country who have taken on this initiative.”
DPW conducted a recent study of waste from litter cans throughout the Capitol Hill community and determined that the following locations would benefit most from a public space recycling pilot:
13th & Pennsylvania Ave., SE (South side of PA Ave. in front of Harris Teeter’s)
3rd & Pennsylvania Ave., SE (South side of PA Ave. in front of Starbucks)
8th & E Street, SE (West side of 8th street in front of 7-11)
600 Block of Pennsylvania Ave., SE (North side of street in front of PNC Bank)
6th & Pennsylvania Ave., SE (North side of PA Ave. in front of Bread of Chocolate)
236 Massachusetts Ave., NE (in front of “Bagels & Baguette” shop)
“This program is an important step toward reducing the business community’s environmental footprint, raising consumers’ awareness, and promoting an environmental ethic,” said Capitol Hill BID Chair Paul Pascal. “We hope that Capitol Hill will serve as a living model for other areas of the District.”
A similar pilot is being planned with the Downtown BID beginning this summer.
Visit DPW’s website at www.dpw.dc.gov for more information about DPW’s recycling programs and the link below for more about the Capitol Hill BID: