City Cast Pittsburgh logo
June 23, 2025

Pittsburgh's Trash Problem

City Cast Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh's Trash Problem

00:00:00
View all City Cast Pittsburgh episodes

Pittsburgh hillsides are sorta trashy. There’s the usual culprits like beer cans and single-use plastics, but these impromptu “dumpsites” also have tires, doll heads, and even big ticket items like flat screen TVs. Caily Grube, executive director of Allegheny CleanWays, shares how they approach community cleanups, why it’s so important to take responsibility for our shared spaces, and how existential questions like “what is litter?” help her frame her work in Pittsburgh. Plus, learn about new ways to plug in, including regular meetups, earning badges as an Eco Scout, and the city’s Garbage Olympics in September.

Not sure how you stack up? Double check the city's trash and recycling rules!

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 23rd episode:

Heinz History Center

Bike PGH

VisAbility

Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm.

Want more Pittsburgh news? 

Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Hey Pittsburgh

Stay connected to City Cast Pittsburgh and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
June 25

Pittsburgh's Fireworks Boom

Pittsburgh's going all out for America250! We've got a Ferris Wheel on the North Side, a free Nelly and Third Eye Blind concert, and of c...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 24

Bike Pittsburgh's Best Kept Secrets

Tired of sitting in traffic? Try biking instead! But if you need a pep talk to get on the road with all those cars, we're here to help. W...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 23

ICE Drops PA Warehouse Plans. Plus, Sliding Bridge & Century III's Future

Earlier this year,ICE  bought two warehouses in Pennsylvania with plans to convert them into immigrant detention centers. Now they're loo...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 22

A Pittsburgher's Guide to Erie

If you're looking for a summer beach vacation but don't want to travel too far or spend a small fortune, consider a two-hour drive up nor...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 18

The Best Local Potato Chips

It's backyard barbecue season, and no cookout feels complete without a big bag of chips. And if you like your summer snacks to be locally...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 17

Debunking Pittsburgh Myths

As Pittsburghers, we have so much pride in our city. After all, we're the City of Champions and the City of the Bridges! But can we reall...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 16

Bone Rooms, Power Outages & Primanti’s ‘Stolen’ Art

Pittsburgh International Airport (briefly) lost power during the big storm last week – something that wasn't supposed to happen because o...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 15

Dirty Pasta, Swedish Candy & Dinner Under a Volcano?

Still mourning Stuntpig's closure in Squirrel Hill? Executive producer Mallory Falk and producer Sophia Lo have recommendations for new s...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 14

'Your City Could Be Better': Why Every Region Needs A Park Map Tool Like Salt Lake’s — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh

Do you know how many parks Pittsburgh has? Residents of Salt Lake County have wondered about their parks for years — that is, until City...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
June 12

Morgan Wallen Drama, Vape Shop Regulations & YMCA's Log Cabin

You know you've messed up when both the National Weather Service and Mayor Corey O'Connor have to call you out for your lies! The City Ca...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art