📣 See Trash? Say Something. Do Something.

Dear Eastwick Friend,

Welcome back to the EFNC Legacy Dumping Awareness Series, your weekly Sunday update on the ongoing fight to protect Eastwick from the devastating impact of legacy dumping. Each week, we’re raising awareness, sharing real stories, and offering solutions rooted in community action. In this fourth edition, we’re focusing on one of the most powerful tools we have: each other.

Change doesn’t happen alone—it happens when a community stands together. Today’s newsletter is all about how you can get involved, take action, and be part of the movement to defend Eastwick’s future.

Let’s dive in.

🌳 Upcoming Event 🌳 

Letter #4 : 🤝 How to Get Involved as a Community

A Community Newsletter from Eastwick Friends & Neighbors Coalition, Inc.(EFNC)

“We All Got on the Horn and Reported It”

It started with a picture. One of the members of EFNC’s Watchful Eye Town Watch spotted someone illegally dumping trash in Eastwick. They didn’t confront the person—they followed protocol. They took a photo, captured the license plate, and reported it to the EFNC network.

“Within minutes,” said Ramona Rousseau-Reid, “everyone on the network got a text. We all got on the horn and reported it.”

That’s how committed Eastwick residents are to protecting their community.

But it doesn’t stop there. Every month, EFNC and its partners—including the Clean Air Council, Trash Academy, and the Cobbs Creek Ambassadors—organize community cleanups at Eastwick Regional Playground. Ramona, who participates in every event, says it's more than just picking up trash—it's about taking ownership.

“We do this together,” she said. “We don’t wait for the city to fix it. We take care of our own.”

Fred Stine of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network emphasized that it’s not just about cleaning—it’s about changing behaviors:

Community-Led Action Works—And It’s Growing

Eastwick is not alone in its fight against legacy dumping, but it stands out for its grassroots leadership and commitment to action.

Organizations like Clean Philly Now–Trash Academy, led by Maurice Sampson and Shari Hersh, are sharing research, securing grants, and mobilizing residents across the city to replicate what EFNC has been doing for years: neighborhood-powered advocacy.

EFNC’s clean-up events—co-hosted with Cobbs Creek Ambassadors and Clean Air Council—have become a model. According to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, communities that organize regular cleanups see a 33% reduction in illegal dumping incidents over time.

Eastwick has also restored the Watchful Eye Town Watch, training nine residents to actively document and report illegal dumping with precision and speed. This grassroots surveillance approach, paired with monthly cleanups and advocacy for stricter enforcement, is building a culture of accountability.

“It’s not going to be easy,” said Earl Wilson. “Legacy dumping has been treated like a culture here. But the more we step up, the more they’ll think twice before dumping in Eastwick.”

📣 SECTION 3: Your Guide to Getting Involved

🧼 Organize a Cleanup Event
Pick Up PA is Pennsylvania’s largest community program. In support of the Great American Cleanup, now through May 31st, registered events are eligible for free work gloves, safety vests, and trash bags. Click here to learn more.

🗑️ Join a Cleanup Event
Volunteers are needed to help preserve and restore Philadelphia’s open space. Register here to join a Cobbs Creek Park Cleanup event every Saturday and Sunday.

📸 Be Part of Watchful Eye Town Watch
Help monitor your neighborhood for short dumping. Don’t engage with dumpers—just take a photo, record the plate, and report it to the EFNC network. We urge you to consider forming a Town Watch group by contacting the Integrated Town Watch Service Office at 215-686-1459 for training.

☎️  See Something, Say Something
If you observe illegal dumping, please report it immediately to 911 or 311.

🧠 Practice Conscious Consumption
Reduce waste at the source. Use reusable water bottles, avoid excessive plastic, and educate others about the environmental cost of overconsumption.

💬 Follow Clean Philly Now & Trash Academy
Stay up-to-date on research, policy updates, and funding opportunities. Their work helps amplify the work of groups like EFNC. Learn more here.

📝 Contact Your Council Member
Push for stronger enforcement, policy upgrades, and better surveillance. Let your representatives know this matters to you. Find your Council Member here.

From the Archives

1. Environmental Justice Community
   
   This article discusses Eastwick's designation as an "Environmental Justice Community," highlighting the disproportionate environmental challenges faced by its residents. It underscores the community's commitment to achieving fair treatment and meaningful involvement in environmental decision-making processes, aligning with the principles set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Read more
   

2. EFNC Facts Past and Present
   
   This article provides a historical overview of the EFNC's formation and its response to development proposals affecting the community. It details the coalition's efforts to advocate for environmentally sustainable development and meaningful community involvement in decision-making processes, particularly in response to the Korman Corporation's proposed construction projects. Read more

Until next time,

The EFNC team