Terms

Last updated 31 August 2026

Sanitation alerts is a free service run by the Washington Square West Civic Association. When a city holiday moves trash or recycling collection in Wash West, we message you the afternoon before. Signing up means agreeing to what's below.

Signing up

You enter your email address on this site, pick your collection day, and — if you want texts — add your mobile number and check the consent box. We then email you a confirmation link. Nothing starts until you click it. We never add anyone who didn't ask.

How often we message you

About a dozen times a year. We write only when the schedule actually changes, so most weeks you'll hear nothing. That silence means your collection day is normal.

Message and data rates

Message and data rates may apply. The service is free from us, but your carrier's standard charges apply based on your plan. Carrier support can change without notice.

Stopping messages, or getting help

Reply STOP to any text and texts stop. You'll get one last message confirming it, then nothing. Reply HELP for assistance, or email info@washwestcivic.org. For email alerts, use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any message.

This is a convenience, not an official city notice. The City of Philadelphia's published schedule is the authority. If our alert and the city disagree, believe the city.

What we don't promise

We build these alerts from the city's published holiday calendar and collection rules, and we check our work — every deploy runs an automated test suite against the schedule. Even so, the city can change plans with little warning, messages get delayed or dropped in delivery, and software fails. The service comes as-is, with no warranty.

WSWCA isn't liable for missed collections, fines, or any other loss arising from an alert that arrived late, never arrived, or got it wrong. Carriers likewise aren't liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

Your side of it

Be 18 or older, and only sign up contact information you control — not a housemate's, not a neighbor's. If you give up a phone number, unsubscribe first so whoever gets it next isn't stuck with our messages.

Email alerts are open to anyone in the neighborhood. Text alerts are a WSWCA member benefit, and we check membership when you sign up.

Changes, and ending the service

We may revise these terms or stop running the service. Material changes get posted here with a new date at the top. WSWCA is a volunteer organization and can't promise to run this forever. We may also end an individual subscription that's being misused.

Governing law

Pennsylvania law governs these terms.

Reaching us

Email info@washwestcivic.org, or write to Washington Square West Civic Association, 1100 Walnut MOB Room B113, Philadelphia, PA 19107.