United Way Day of Caring
Each year, for the United Way Day of Caring, OPDC partners with area organizations and institutions to perform a special project in the Oakland community. Once again this year, OPDC partnered with both the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to perform three separate projects in the Oakland neighborhood. All three projects were a tremendous success!

Pitt Day of Caring 2008
On September 26, 2008 over 75 volunteers from the University of Pittsburgh’s faculty and staff participated in two Day of Caring projects coordinated through OPDC.  One project was held at the Lawn Street Greenway in South Oakland.  Volunteers helped put together another bench for the adorable community parklet and raked new mulch into the greenway to use as a pathway for visitors.  In addition, volunteers helped spread wildflower and grass seed in the hopes of adding some extra color to the site.  Bright autumn mums were also planted next to the benches that overlook an incredible view of the Monongahela River and our neighbors on the South Side!

The other project Day of Caring project coordinated through OPDC was held at 141 Robinson Street in West Oakland.  OPDC is in the process of acquiring this rental property with plans to renovate the building.  Volunteers spent the morning painting the interior of the building, including hallways and stairwells.  Other volunteers hauled old appliances and other debris out of vacant units and the mechanical room. All of the Day of Caring volunteers had a fun time with the various projects they were engaged in and we are thankful for their efforts!

 

Trash Pickup and Recycling
Trash day in Central, South, and West Oakland is every Tuesday.

Curbside recycling occurs every other week. On the planned recycling pickup days, just put out your recycling with your normal trash - plastic, glass, metal, and aluminum containers should be placed in blue bags only and newspapers should be placed either in a brown bag or tied in a bundle with string. It's that easy! So, don't be a litterbug. RECYCLE!

Bulk pickup in Oakland, and throughout the City of Pittsburgh occurs EVERY WEEK. Bulk pickup service gives residents a chance to place their bulky waste items out on the street for free pickup. Bulk items include large items such as furniture, large appliances, and discards from small renovation projects - sofas, recliner chairs, tables, box springs, mattresses, dressers, TVs, stoves, washers, dryers, toilets, hot water tanks, and windows. No more than 2 bulky items per week per household are to be placed at the curb. All long items (carpet, lumber, etc…) MUST be cut into 3-foot lengths.

Please note that the City of Pittsburgh does not collect the following items: car or truck parts, tires, refrigerators, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and construction materials. For collection of freon appliances, call the Appliance Warehouse at 412-381-8800 or call Construction Junction at 412-243-5025 or visit their website:

www.constructionjunction.org

Also, please keep in mind that when a holiday falls on or before your collection day, your pick up will be one day later. For example, due to the Labor Day holiday, North Oakland's pickup would be moved from Wednesday to Thursday and the rest of Oakland's from Friday to Saturday.

To request a trash/bulk/recycling schedule, call Kelly at 412-621-7863 or the Department of Environmental Services at 412-255-2773. Or, simply click the link below:

http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/pw/assets/
2008_Central_Eastern_Wilkinsburg.pdf

 
311 Complaint Line - A Useful Tool
311 is the City of Pittsburgh's non-emergency complaint and information line initiated through Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. 311 allows City residents to call one easy-to-remember number in order to receive information and access to City services. You can call 311 to ask simple questions such as when is trash day, how to recycle newspaper, etc. 311 is also a useful tool for reporting building, health, and safety code violations in your neighborhood. For example, you can call 311 to report overgrown vacant lots, broken windows, cracked sidewalks, graffiti, and more! All 311 calls are answered by a live operator from 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. Each call and complaint receives a tracking number. So…you can call back and check on the status of your complaint. 311 is an easy-to-use tool that can help improve our neighborhood and the entire City of Pittsburgh.

Oakland Dumpster Project
Every year in August when the students move back into Oakland for the start of a new academic year, there is a significant increase in trash. The move-in process leads to excessive garbage, boxes, moving materials, and old furniture left in apartments from previous tenants. Due to the trash that accumulates in the month of August, OPDC has partnered with the City's Departments of Environmental Services and Public Works, Waste Management, area landlords, Oakland banks and institutions, and the University of Pittsburgh to provide dumpsters for students to use to place their unwanted furniture, trash, and debris.

Dumpsters are placed on various street corners throughout Oakland to mitigate trash and debris issues associated with the high volume of students moving into off-campus housing. Each August since 2003, the Dumpster Project has collected a total of 280 tons of trash, debris, and unsalvageable furniture during busy student move-in/out periods.

The August 2007 Dumpster Project was another success!! 46.23 tons of garbage and debris were collected in the 20 dumpsters provided. The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works crews collected an additional 10-15 tons of debris and trash from the piles around the dumpsters and from the streets throughout the neighborhood. Thanks to all those who made the 2007 Oakland Dumpster Project a success, including our partners at the Dept. of Public Works and Waste Management!

Prior to the Dumpster Project, the garbage and debris collected would have lined the streets of Central and South Oakland for weeks.

2008 Oakland Dumpster Project Information

The August 2008 Oakland Dumpster Project was held from Wednesday, August 13th through Wednesday, August 20th. Dumpsters are for student residents to dispose of their excess debris and garbage associated with student move-in. For the 2008 project, dumpsters were placed at the following locations in Central and South Oakland:

Fundraising Information

In 2008, OPDC was able to fundraise over $5,800 in donations to help purchase 14 dumpsters for the project. If interested in donating to the Oakland Dumpster Project for 2009, please mail your donation to:

OPDC
Oakland Dumpster Project
Attn: Kelly Wawrzeniak
235 Atwood Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Or contact kellyw@opdc.org for additional information. OPDC thanks our 2008 sponsors and contributors for making the project a tremendous success for the 6th year in a row!

2008 Sponsors and Contributors:

 

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