Moving to Philly in April, have a couple of questions about living in the city

[Heddi]

Hi!

so it looks like we'll be living in Manayunk, which is great and I love the little house we'll be renting.

I had heard (read) somewhere that trash & recycling pickup in the city of philadelphia was free, and paid for by the city wage tax. I have looked online and see nothing about rates for garbage pickup, so is this true?

Also, we'll be living in a rowhome and there's no access to the backyard from the front of the house, and there's no alley....what do I do with my trash cans on non-trash days? Do I keep them against the front of the house? Keep them in the back yard and haul them through the house on trash day?

Just some odd things that popped through my mind at 2am....

thanks!

hed

Oh...and what are the grocery store chains out there? In Seattle we have Safeway, Fred Meyer (like a grocery store & target & JC Penny combined...I love it!), QFC....but what places do people shop out there?

[NYC_SKP]

1. I think half the fun is finding out after you get there!

I remember moving from SF to NY, then on to other cities.

Everything is different wherever you go!

Gristede's instead of Safeway!

Every other day garbage pickup in NYC!

Be ready to bribe or pay the refuse service if you want anything special, like removing a bit of construction debris (NYC).

And if your building uses fuel oil and you have a shitty landlord/landlady, well, keep a few hundred handy for any hard times.

Good luck!

[madashelltoo]

2. Yes, you will have a trash day.

You put your trash and garbage in a trash bag, your recycles in a separate recycle bin and place them both at the curb on the front. I have a plastic trash basket in the kitchen for trash and a box for recycle items. If you don't have garbage disposal, keep plastic bag for garbage in freezer or house will smell before trash day. Hope that helps.

I live in Mt.Airy, but the city is the city. Welcome!

[Heddi]

3. So your actual trash cans, though

where do they go? I can't get to the back yardy thing from the front of the house, so do I leave the bins against the front of my house? Here, where I currently live, I have an alley so the bins just sit in the back and the garbage truck comes through the alley on WEdnesdays or whatever and empties the cans. But since I don't have an alley, I assume the trash is picked up from the front sidewalk, and I just don't know what to do with my bins. Don't want to be a slob and leave them out in the front if that's not acceptable, but dislike the idea of keeping the empty cans in the back yard until trash day and lugging them through the house once a week

oH, and glad to be arriving soon. Very excited!

[madashelltoo]

4. No bins on front until trash day.

Keep them in the backyard.

[Heddi]

5. gah! DO you have to use cans? Can I put out just bags?

Probably not....

What are the grocery stores out there?

Thanks for all your help, btw

[madashelltoo]

7. You put bags at curb on front.

Keep the trash in bins/cans out back or animals will have it all over your back.

[mrmpa]

6. Ask the landlord.................

& if Philly is like Pittsburgh, yes your taxes cover the cost of trash removal. Also check to see if your trash (dry) and garbage (food) have to be separated.

Back in 1960 when we lived there, my Mom got hauled in front of the local magistrate because she didn't keep these items separated.

[madashelltoo]

8. Don't do it right, you get fined.

[MadamYes]

9. Follow the rules.

In Philly, trash is picked up once a week. Each section is given a designated day. Trash & Recyclables are picked up on the same day by 2 separate trucks.
Place them on the curb in front of your house. There is no charge for pickup. It's paid via property taxes. I wouldn't keep them out front. Sadly, you're going to have to haul them through the house.

There are Rules.

You cannot put your trash/recyclables out before 7:00 PM, the night before pickup. Yes, they have Refuse Collection Enforcers ! You will be ticketed $50 for each violation.

Trash can be in a plastic bag or a trash can or whatever you may use. There is no longer "garbage/food" pickup. It's all considered trash.
The city will provide you with as many recyclable bins as you need. You don't need to separate paper from bottles from plastic, etc. It all goes into the bin.

There are a variety of supermarkets. We have Acme, Shoprite, Pathmark, Giant & more.
You're going to be in nice area of the city.

[Heddi]

10. Thanks so much!

Very helpful information you've provided, and my husband and I greatly appreciate it.

I loved Manayunk and went there last week to house search. Found a nice place, 3-story rowhouse, 4bd 2ba. Nice nice nice, and nicer than anything I'd get in Seattle for the price certainly cheaper than I'd get for the size. I love the streets, all narrow and windy and hilly. Reminds me of Europe when I was driving up these little cobblestone streets

Can't wait to go!!

[Freddie]

11. Best of luck!

Manayunk is a great part of the city. Part trendy/gentrified and part just regular people. If you've never lived in PA and like a drink now and then, be forewarned of our state store/beer distributor system; no beer or wine in those supermarkets mentioned! I'm very partial to Giant myself.

[JPZenger]

12. Acme on Ridge Av.

It looks like the nearest chain supermarket is an Acme on Ridge Av. in adjacent Roxborough. There also is a Superfresh on Ridge Av.

By the way, the last time I looked, Roxborough was the only part of Phila. that had no homicides.

[MadrasT]

13. Manayunk is great.

What an adventure. You will be nearby so much great stuff.

I don't live in the city but seems like your other questions were answered.

As for grocery stores, you don't have a Wegmens right close to you but there is one not too far in King of Prussia. Wegmans is a great grocery store and has tons of really yummy prepared food. I frequently stop in on the way home from work for a quick meal at the hot food bar. If you are a Whole Foods fan, there is a giant fancy one up in Plymouth Meeting. I am sure you have more generic grocery stores much closer to you... looks like there is an Acme on Ridge Pike and a Superfresh in Roxborough. (I think somebody mentioned that upthread.) (Edit to add, LOL, yes JPZenger in post #12. Oops.)

Have fun! And welcome to Philly!!!

[whiteroses]

14. Trader Joes

Last edited Sat Mar 2, 2013, 02:14 PM - Edit history (1)

Here is a link to the closest Trader Joes to Manayunk. http://traderjoes.com/stores/index.asp?q=19126 There is also a Costco in King of Prussia. I lived in Manayunk 19 years ago. I sometimes shopped at the Reading Terminal Market in Center City but parking was difficult then and probably pricey now.