Environment/Health

05/25 2017

Memorial Day Weekend – Refuse Collection Wed 5/31; Liberty Bridge Closure 5/26-30

* – All City of Pittsburgh offices and most Citiparks facilities will be closed Monday, May 29, in observance of Memorial Day. 
 
* – Oakland refuse collection rescheduled from Tuesday, May 30 to Wednesday, May 31
* – Liberty Bridge Weekend Closure May 26-30 
 
PennDOT District 11 is announcing the closure of the Liberty Bridge in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will occur Friday night, May 26 through Tuesday morning, May 30 (weather permitting). 
 
The Liberty Bridge will close to traffic in both directions from 8 p.m. Friday night continuously through 5 a.m. Tuesday morning.  The bridge will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29. Crews will conduct deck reconstruction work, placing new bearing seats and stringer beams, and installing new strip seal dams.  
 
The outbound Liberty Tunnel and PJ McArdle Roadway will remain open the entire weekend. A single-lane will remain open in the inbound (northbound) Liberty Tunnel, with traffic only able to turn right onto PJ McArdle Roadway.  
 
All Liberty Bridge traffic will be detoured during the closure. Most official detours involve I-376 and US-19 Banksville Rd.  A common GPS landmark would be Eat'n Park at 1250 Banksville Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15216
05/19 2017

Special Biannual Yard Debris Pickup Sat 5/20

The City of Pittsburgh offers special curbside collection days twice a year to promote environmentally-friendly disposal of your seasonal yard debris. 
 
Please check your collection calendar at http://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/dpw/CE_Map_and_Calendar.pdf 
 
or visit PGH.ST to schedule reminders for upcoming dates. 
 
We will collect the following items curbside:
  • Leaves
  • Branches (4" diameter or less)
  • Brush
  • Grass
 
Yard waste that does not meet the collection guidelines will be left at the curb.
05/18 2017

May Green Team Mtg resched as Tree Care Event

This month instead of the regular meeting they're organizing two tree care days in Oakland; one will be in South Oakland and the other in West Oakland. They're still finalizing the dates/times with Tree Pittsburgh but stay tuned so you can come out and work side-by-side with your neighbors to keep our trees healthy. 
 
There is no technical expertise involved; it’s weeding, and mulching for the most part. If there is any pruning that needs to be done, that will be flagged for trained individuals.

05/17 2017

Bike To Work Day – Fri 5/19 7:30a-10a – Schenley Plaza

Bike to Work Day
Friday, May 19th – 7:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Schenley Plaza (near Porch) 
 
Have you always wanted to try biking to campus? This is your chance! Join your fellow Pitt community members and bike to campus on Friday, May 19th. New bicyclists and seasoned bicyclists alike are welcome! 
 
  • Enjoy the commuter café with free breakfast and coffee.
  • Enter to win raffle prizes, including a U-lock and bike lights.
  • Practice placing your bike on the bus rack in a low-stress environment with Port Authority’s demo bike rack.
  • Receive a free bike safety check from the Pitt Police.
  • Learn about bike laws and bike safety from the Oakland Transportation Management Association (OTMA) and The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
  • Meet the Pitt Bicycle Collective student club and learn about a new Bike Co-Op space being planned at Pitt.
  • Register your bike for free and receive a gift, complimentary of OTMA.
  • Meet other like-minded bicyclists!
Don’t have your own bike? Healthy Ride bike share is offering free rides all day on May 19th! In order to use a Healthy Ride bike, you must be registered. You can register for an account prior to May 19th online at HealthyRidePGH.com, or register through the smartphone app NextBike. 
 
Biking to Work on May 19th?

Preparing for your ride?
This event is presented by: Pitt Parking Services Office, Bike Pittsburgh (BikePGH), Pitt Police, Oakland Transportation Management Association (OTMA), Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pitt Staff Council, Pitt Bicycle Collective, Healthy Ride, and Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAAC).
04/10 2017

Natl Prescription Drug Take-Back Day – Sat 4/29 10a-2p

pdf icon DRUG201704_Flyer.pdf

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.

 

Turn in your unused or expired medication for safe disposal Saturday, April 29th from 10am to 2pm at:
  • Zone 4 Police Station 5358 Northumberland St, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
  • UPMC, Falk Pharmacy: Falk Medical Bldg, 2nd Floor Lobby, 3601 Fifth Ave
  • UPMC, UPMC Presby, Prescription Shop, 1st Fl, 200 Lothrop St
  • UPMC, Forbes Pharmacy of WPIC: Oxford Bldg, 7th Fl, 3501 Forbes Ave
  • UPMC, Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, Main Lobby, 1st Fl, 300 Halket St
  • UPMC, Forbes Tower Main Lobby Atwood St Between Forbes Ave & Sennott St



See attached flyer for more or visit www.DEA.gov for more info and locations.

03/07 2017

Phipps Conservatory wants to reward you for going green

A visit to the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens could mean more than a walk through the flowers—it could mean a more sustainable future for Pittsburgh. Inline image 1
 
The Oakland-based public garden now offers incentives for switching to Green Mountain Energy, one of the largest clean power retailers in the country. Pennsylvania and New York residents who visit Phipps can work with an on-site Green Mountain representative to swap their current electricity provider for power generated by sources such as local wind farms and solar. Every guest who switches during their visit gets a free one-year family membership to Phipps while existing members receive a six-month extension of their membership. 
 
Click here for the entire article for more information.

03/07 2017

Mar 2017 – Free Or Almost Free Stuff To Do In Pgh

Find year-round events for fun, entertaining and engaging things to do in the greater Pittsburgh Area.Inline image 2
Having fun doesn’t have to empty your wallet! Many of Pittsburgh’s annual events are free, family friendly and deliver a unique experience.
A sampling of ongoing and upcoming events and places to visit:

Check out their website for the complete list and links to respective sites.
http://www.visitpittsburgh.com/events-festivals/free-events/  
 

Also check out the list of great family adventures in Pittsburgh this month from NEXTPittsburgh Inline image 1

http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/events/11-pittsburgh-events-not-miss-march/2/
Top 10 family events in Pittsburgh this March
http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/features/top-10-family-events-in-pittsburgh-this-march/
02/01 2017

Clean Water Assistance Fund 2017

pdf icon Clean-Water-Assistance-Fund-Information.pdf

The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority has created the Clean Water Assistance Fund to help families pay their sewage treatment bills. This program serves low-income residential customers in the 83 municipalities that ALCOSAN serves. It is
administered by Dollar Energy Fund. 
 
Who is eligible? The Clean Water Assistance Fund is available to ALCOSAN service area residential homeowners (and tenants who have accounts in their own names) who meet family income limits set by the federal government. 
 
Household size Monthly income Annual income
  • 1 $1,485 $17,820
  • 2 $2,003 $24,030
  • 3 $2,520 $30,240
  • 4 $3,038 $36,450
  • 5 $3,555 $42,660
  • 6 $4,073 $48,870
  • 7 $4,591 $55,095
  • 8 $5,111 $61,335
See the attached flyer for more info.

02/01 2017

East End Food Coop Workshop On Starting Seedlings At Home

Starting Seedlings at HomeInline image 1
Saturday, February 18th at 1:00 PM
Danielle Marvit, Garden Dreams Urban Farm & Nursery
POWER/EEFC Conference Room 
 
Garden Dreams head farmer Danielle Marvit will provide tips on selecting seed varieties and discuss how to properly germinate, pot up, feed, and harden off homegrown seedlings. Please bring seeds to swap! 
 
To RSVP for this event, please call 412.242.3598.    
 
Click here to visit the EEFC website.

02/01 2017

Feb 2017 – Free Or Almost Free Stuff To Do In Pgh

Find year-round events for fun, entertaining and engaging things to do in the greater Pittsburgh Area.
Having fun doesn’t have to empty your wallet! Many of Pittsburgh’s annual events are free, family friendly and deliver a unique experience.
A sampling of ongoing and upcoming events and places to visit: 
Check out their website for the complete list and links to respective sites.
http://www.visitpittsburgh.com/events-festivals/free-events/  
 
Also check out the list of great family adventures in Pittsburgh this month from NEXTPittsburgh Inline image 1
  • Hervé Tullet exhibit at Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh: Now-February 26
  • Party in the Tropics at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: February 3, 7—11 p.m
  • The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at Ace Hotel Pittsburgh: January 26—February 4
  • The Addams Family at Shady Side Academy: February 10-12
  • Ice skating with BikePGH at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex: February 12
  • Valentine’s Day and Ginger Whiskey Weekend at Wigle Whiskey: February 14, 17, 18, 19
  • Award-winning acrobatics group Galumpha at various venues: February 14-19
  • The Harry Potter Film and Cultural Festival at Row House Cinema: February 17-March 2
  • Firelei Báez: Bloodlines at The Andy Warhol Museum: February 17–May 21
  • Tropical Forest Congo Festival at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: February 18
  • Pittsburgh Winter Beerfest at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center: February 24 & 25

01/30 2017

Feb 2017 – Oakwatch Mtg Wed 2/15 Noon, Green Team Mtg 2/16 6pm

Oakwatch : The Oakland Code Enforcement Project
Third Wednesdays
February 15, Noon, St. Regis Church Social Hall, 3235 Parkview Avenue
Check the webpage for further details and any last minute changes.
Oakwatch webpage 
 
Green Team : Putting the “oak” back in Oakland
Third Thursdays
February 16, 6pm, Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple St, Pgh, PA 15213.
Check the webpage for further details and any last minute changes.
Green Team webpage
 
01/26 2017

Support PWSA’s Green First Plan!

There is only a few days left to submit public comments to PWSA on their City-Wide Green-First Plan! Tell PWSA that you support their Green-First City-Wide plan because of the benefits that green infrastructure will bring to your neighborhood! 
   
The plan reduces combined sewer overflows and flooding, and also brings benefits to our community such as cooler temperatures in the summer, revitalized neighborhoods with more green space and street trees, cleaner air, and it fights climate change locally. 
   
The City-Wide Green-First Plan solves multiple problems, generates community benefits, and cleans our waterways quicker than the ALCOSAN tunnel plan. This plan shows that a green first approach is what's best for our City and the smartest way to invest ratepayer money. 
   
Now ALCOSAN must completely expand the study and adopt the plan so that all CSO communities throughout the region can get the same benefits for their money. 
   
Voice your support for the Green-First plan here! 
   
Check out their website, cleanriverscampaign.org

01/03 2017

Jan 2017 – Free Or Almost Free Stuff To Do In Pgh

Find year-round events for fun, entertaining and engaging things to do in the greater Pittsburgh Area.
Having fun doesn’t have to empty your wallet! Many of Pittsburgh’s annual events are free, family friendly and deliver a unique experience.
A sampling of ongoing and upcoming events and places to visit:
Check out their website for the complete list and links to respective sites.
http://www.visitpittsburgh.com/events-festivals/free-events/  
 
Also check out the list of great family adventures in Pittsburgh this month from NEXTPittsburgh 
  • Winter Flower Show and Light Garden at Phipps: Nov 25 – Jan 8
  • Pittsburgh Restaurant Week: January 9—15
  • Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District: January 20
  • The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at Ace Hotel Pittsburgh: January 26—February 4
  • Imbibe Northside at the Mattress Factory: January 28
  • Multiple Choice Hip-Hop at the August Wilson Center: January 29
http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/events/10-pittsburgh-events-not-miss-january-2/   

01/03 2017

Jan 2017 – Oakwatch Mtg Wed 1/18 6pm, Green Team Mtg 1/19 6pm

Oakwatch : The Oakland Code Enforcement Project
Third Wednesdays (alternating meeting times at Noon and 6pm)
January 18, 6pm at the Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple St, Pgh, PA 15213
NOTE: Evening meetings now on odd numbered months and daytime meetings now on even numbered months.
Check the webpage for further details and any last minute changes.
Oakwatch webpage 
 
​​Green Team : Putting the “oak” back in Oakland
Third Thursdays
​January 19, 6pm at the Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple St, Pgh, PA 15213
Check the webpage for further details and any last minute changes.
Green Team webpage

12/19 2016

Dec 2016 – Oakwatch Mtg Wed 12/21 6pm, Green Team Mtg – Cancelled

Oakwatch : The Oakland Code Enforcement Project
Third Wednesdays (alternating meeting times at Noon and 6pm)
​Decem​ber ​2​1, 6pm at the Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple St, Pgh, PA 152131
​Introducing new co-chair Bob Koller​.
Check the webpage for further details and any last minute changes.
Oakwatch webpage 
 
​​Green Team : Putting the “oak” back in Oakland
Third Thursdays
​Cancelled for December, next meeting Thursday, January 19, 2017.
Check the webpage for further details and any last minute changes.
Green Team webpage