Newsletter

On April 14, 2014, Pittsburgh City Council passed a land bank bill. The city’s website defines a land bank as “a locally-created, locally-controlled, state-enabled, single-purpose entity whose job it is to amass, inventory, manage and market blighted, abandoned and tax foreclosed properties that are sitting deteriorated and unused, bringing down property values and depressing the local market.” The goal of the Land Bank is to empower communities to deal with blighted property and to drive development by giving neighborhood residents a voice in the decision-making.

ACW's dumpbox goes from doleful black to serene, environmental green following a recent paint job. New signage to follow soon

Thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Allegheny County Conservation District (ACCD), the Tireless Project will be able to expand both our cleanup and education efforts this year. We’re looking forward to engaging more volunteers and educating more people (especially youth) about watershed stewardship this year.

For the City of Pittsburgh's Tree Recycling Program, you can take your tree to any of the city drop-off locations Monday-Saturday from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Please note that the drop-off location at the Environmental Services office in the Strip District runs only through the end of January.

The Allegheny County Department of Parks Christmas tree recycling program runs through Jan. 17. The trees will be mulched and used in the county’s parks.

Drop-off locations:

Boyce Park: Parking lot by the wave pool

Deer Lakes: Parking lot by Veterans Shelter

Harrison Hills: Parking lot at the intersection of Chipmunk & Cottontail Drive

Hartwood Acres: Parking lot at the mansion

North Park: Parking lot at the swimming pool

Round Hill: Parking lot between Meadow & Alfalfa Shelters

Settler's Cabin: Parking lot by the wave pool

In Oakland, a dedicated group of residents and enforcement officials work collaboratively each month to enforce city codes and make the neighborhood safer and more beautiful. Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project emerged in 2011 when hundreds of Oakland residents created The Oakland 2025 Master Plan and named code enforcement as a top priority for implementation. Since then, Oakwatch has successfully reclaimed vacant lots, engaged landlords in neighborhood beautification projects, and reduced friction between long-term residents and the more transient student population. This brand of civic engagement exemplifies how resident participation in public processes generates positive results. Oakwatch has gained city-wide recognition as an effective model for collaborative public safety advocacy and code enforcement. Recently, with some Allegheny Cleanways networking help, Oakwatch helped bring a long-known illegal dumping site up to code.