A Real Estate Leader Takes Action on Litter

In 2022, PhillyLiving, one of the country’s top real estate businesses, partnered with Glitter to tackle Philadelphia’s ongoing trash and litter issue. Spearheaded by Noah Ostroff, Founder & CEO of PhillyLiving, this initiative invested $20,000 into funding weekly block cleanups across 80 South Philadelphia city blocks.

The effort was further supported by Matt Bremner of PhillyLiving Management Group and Mickey Murray of Center City Development. Their goal? To create an immediate and lasting impact on neighborhood cleanliness, proving that local businesses can drive positive change in their communities.

As a result, 35 blocks signed up to keep the litter cleaning service going and are now cleaned every week by Glitter thanks to the investment by Philly Living.

How It Worked

  • $20,000 Pledge: Funded weekly street cleanings for 80 blocks.

  • Matching Fund: Encouraged neighbors to subscribe to Glitter with subsidized cleaning services.

  • Community Engagement: Launched on October 3, 2022, in Graduate Hospital, Point Breeze, Bella Vista, Passyunk Square, and Dickinson Square West.

  • Public Participation: Neighbors and businesses were invited to meet the Glitter cleaning crews, witness the transformation, and share feedback.

PLEDGE to KEEP YOUR BLOCK CLEAN

We are working to clean up streets and show what is possible - keep that ‘clean block’ feeling going week after week by pledging what you can contribute to a subscription.

A Shared Mission for Cleaner Streets

PhillyLiving recognized the importance of clean streets—not just for property values but for the well-being of residents. "We want the streets where we live, work, and invest to be clean. We know our clients and neighbors want the same thing," said Noah Ostroff.

Glitter’s Founder, Morgan Berman, echoed the sentiment:

“One year after our launch, it’s incredible to see Glitter cleaning hundreds of blocks every month. Partnerships like this help us make progress on the thousands of additional, unserved blocks across the city.”

Lasting Impact

Following this initiative:
30% of the cleaned blocks became recurring Glitter subscribers
Increased community participation in block cleanups
Enhanced property values and neighborhood pride

In total, over ~500 bags of litter and trash in just the initial clean ups!

Noah Ostroff Founder & Brand Ambassador, PhillyLiving

Noah Ostroff

Founder & Brand Ambassador, PhillyLiving

thank you to everyone who made this partnership a ‘sweeping’ success

CONTRIBUTIONS

Matthew Bremner

Fred Capp

Mickey Murray

Noah Ostroff

OUTREACH

Fred Capp

Brian Chica

Maverick Cook

Abigail Fine

Liz Lutz

Andrew Mascieri

Lynnal Ndimande

Sabina Palermo

Kelly Steyn

Chardae Taylor

Kristi Yodis

CLEANUPS

Tony Bazemore

Sarah Bell

Nasir Kemp

Shavonne Monroe

Emily Rector

Giovannie Vilomar

Justin Walker

Want to partner?

Join us on our journey towards cleaner, safer neighborhoods. If you are curious how we can be part of engaging your community to create clean streets get in touch!

Contact us at hello@shareglitter.com or 215-436-9018.

Learn more

  • Glitter is an affordable service that keeps litter and trash off your streets, sidewalks, and storm drains. Our pay-what-you-can model brings neighbors together to fund weekly cleaning.

    We pay a living wage and are and prioritize hiring those in the community with barriers to work. We’re based in Philadelphia and committed to supporting cleaner and safer neighborhoods across the city.

  • Our main focus is removing litter and trash from the sidewalks, street, and storm drains. When time allows, we’ll sweep also up leaves and pull weeds.

    We report bulk items like tires, appliances, and construction debris to the city for removal.

    We’ll clean up anything that is safe to handle, including discarded needles and bagged pet waste. We cannot handle other hazardous materials, such as unbagged feces or dead animals.

  • Join Cleaner Hiring Waitlist

    Live nearby and want to contribute? Join our waitlist to be first in line for cleaning team positions as they become available.

    Sign-Up as a Community Partner

    Your support is crucial. Whether you’re a local business, community leader, or engaged citizen, sign up today to tell us how you can help support safer, cleaner neighborhoods.

  • We’re eager to hear from you!

    Contact Glitter at hello@shareglitter.com or 215-995-0210