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Did You Know...?
The City of Philadelphia's municipally collected residential recycling rate is only 7%! That means that 93% of waste ends up in a landfill or incinerator.
Philadelphia was the first city to pass a mandatory urban recycling law, but Philadelphia's recycling rate is now ranked eighth out of the nine major U.S. cities with curbside recycling programs and populations over one million.
Three Steps to Improve Recycling in Philadelphia
The Recycling Alliance of Philadelphia supports a STRONG recycling program in Philadelphia including:
- Improving Services:
Implement strategies to improve program service and availability.
- Collection
Implement weekly, single-stream residential curbside recycling collection citywide.
- Buckets
Make bigger buckets available to all residents; offer smaller buckets to those who want them. Provide buckets for all residents who need them.
- Materials Collected
Increase the kind of materials that the City collects and recycles curbside to include plastics, cardboard, and yard waste.
- Increasing Educational Efforts:
- Increase the visibility of the recycling program and available services to residents.
- Produce and improve distribution of better materials about what can be recycled and how residents can utilize the current program.
- Develop program to work with existing community-based organizations to expand educational outreach efforts.
- Expanding Facilities that Participate in Recycling:
- Implement strong recycling programs in key facilities around the city.
- Implement recycling in schools, at city facilities and institutions, in public housing, in parks, and at recreation centers.
- Increase the number of businesses and stores that recycle and provide recycling to customers.
Philadelphia Recycling: It's the Law
In 1987, the City of Philadelphia passed Bill 1251A - Philadelphia's Mandatory Recycling Ordinance. This was the first mandatory recycling law in any major city in the United States! This ordinance specifies the materials to be targeted for recycling by all premises in the City and the City's procurement policy. This ordinance also established the Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC), defines its membership and its relationship to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Recycling, and outlines the procedures for implementing RAC recommendations.
Since then, the City's recycling program has ebbed and flowed, never reaching the 40% recycling goal set by City Council many years ago.
The Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC) is responsible for developing and drafting recommended policies, regulations, and projects for the City's recycling program. The RAC was established with the legislative intent of bringing expertise of a variety of private sector interests to bear on recycling issues.
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) develops regulations pertaining to the collection, removal, and disposal of recycled materials, develops and implements an educational program, and develops and establishes processing centers for materials. The goal of the IATF was to have 25% of the City's total waste stream being recycled by 1989; at least 35% by 1990; and at least 50% by 1991.
The Recycling Economic Development Consortium, formed by the IATF in 1993, is a volunteer advisory group of representatives from city departments and agencies, and volunteers from non-profit organizations, academia, and the private sector.
Philadelphia Recycling History
Despite its promising beginnings, Philadelphia's recycling program has been decidedly lackluster. In fact, Philadelphia residents have never recycled more than 7% of what they throw away!
Of the trash not recycled in Philadelphia:
- 30% of it is burned in incinerators, polluting the air with toxic smoke and
- 70% is buried in landfills, which can leak toxic chemicals to the soil and water.
A Chronology of Demise:
Philadelphia's Recycling Timeline
1987
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Philadelphia City Council passes City Ordinance No. 1251 A, setting up the first large-scale urban mandatory recycling program in the country.
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| 1992 |
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was compelled to issue a Notice of Violation of Act 101 threatening a fine in excess of half a million dollars to force the City to expand its program beyond 1/3 of its residents.
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| 1993 |
Contrary to provisions of 1251-A, and at the urging of the Streets Department, the Rendell Administration shifted decision-making authority for the program from the Recycling Coordinator to the Streets Commissioner.
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| 1994 |
The Streets Department refused to carry out a policy directive to develop a strategic plan to reach the 40 percent recycling goal by the year 2000.
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| 1995 |
The Commercial Recycling Program was implemented beginning in 1995. Plans calling for a full time position and a major promotion program were announced and then abruptly canceled.
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| 1996 |
Despite warnings from the recycling staff, $500,000 in state grants were lost due to failure of the Streets Department to follow administrative procedures.
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| 1997 |
Residential recycling volumes dropped for a second year in a row to a rate of 6.5 percent: the equivalent of one Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer and two 16-ounce soda bottles per household each week.
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| 1998 |
Al Dezzi, the Deputy Streets Commissioner for Recycling, resigned in January 1998. After considerable consternation, a new coordinator was retained in September 1998. By that time, most of the senior recycling staff (each with roughly 10 years of experience and a wealth of institutional knowledge) resigned or transferred to other positions. Replaced by internal transfer with staff of lesser experience, recycling job titles were not refilled. The position of Deputy Streets Commissioner for Recycling was reduced to a subservient level responsible to the Deputy Streets Commissioner for Sanitation.
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| 1999 |
As the result of outside pressure from recycling efforts, the City begins a return to weekly collection on a "trial basis" in two pilot areas for one year.
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| 2000 |
Philadelphia Recycling Office hires David Robinson as Recycling Coordinator.
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| 2001 |
The City begins "Same Day - Same Way" pilot program in August.
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How to Recycle in Philadelphia
Philadelphia does have many options for recycling available for residents and local businesses.
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Residents
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Materials
At the curbside, residents in all areas of Philadelphia can recycle:
Mixed paper, including:
- Newspapers including inserts
- Junk mail
- Envelopes (with or without windows)
- Telephone books
- Magazines and catalogs
- Cereal type boxes - no liners please!
- Home office paper
- Stationery and other clean paper
Place mixed paper beside your recycling bin in a paper bag or tied with a string.
Commingled materials, including:
- Metal cans
- Aluminum cans
- Empty aerosol cans (no caps please!)
- Empty paint cans (air dried)
- Paint can lids (separated from the paint cans)
- Glass bottles and jars
Place commingled materials in recycling
buckets or bins, or in any container obviously marked
for recycling to be picked up by the city on your designated
recycling day.
Residential
Recycling Days
The City of Philadelphia collects recycling on the same day as trash day citywide. However, some neighborhoods have weekly pick-up and others have bi-weekly pick-up. To see a map and schedule of exact residential recycling days, visit the Philadelphia Recycling Office website at www.recyclingpays.phila.gov.
Plastics
and Cardboard
The City of Philadelphia only picks up plastic or cardboard curbside in some neighborhoods of the City.
If you live in a neighborhood that does not have plastic and cardboard recycling curbside, you still can recycle your plastic and cardboard via the Philadelphia Partnership Recycling Program.
The Philadelphia Partnership Recycling Program is a joint
effort of nonprofit community groups and the Philadelphia
Streets Department that supplies city recycling services.
Income earned by the Partnership community groups through
their volunteer efforts supports local projects for the
public good.
Partnership drop-off times, materials collection and locations
are as follows (note: mixed paper includes cardboard):
Cedar Park Neighbors:
Where: Firehouse Farmer's Market, 50th and Baltimore
Ave.
Day: 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month
Time: 9 am to 12:30 pm
Materials collected: mixed paper, #1 & #2 plastic
Central Roxborough Civic Association:
Where: Leverington Ave. parking lot near Ridge Ave.
Day: 1st Saturday of the month
Time: 9 am to 11:30 pm
Materials collected: mixed paper, #1 & #2 plastic
Chestnut Hill Community Association:
Where: Wyndmoor Train Station, Willow Grove Ave.
near Crittenden St.
Day: 1st Saturday of the month
Time: 9 am to 1 pm
Materials collected: mixed paper, #1 & #2 plastic, aluminum cans, household batteries
Fairmount Recycles:
Where: 27th and Poplar Sts. (just south of Girard Ave.) in parking lot behind North Star Bar
Day: 1st Saturday of the month
Time: 9 am to 11:30 am
Materials collected: mixed paper, #1 & #2 plastic, egg cartons, books, bicycles, printer ink cartridges
Fishtown Neighbors Association:
Where: Near SE corner of Palmer and Memphis Sts.
Day: 1st Saturday of the month
Time: 9 am to 11:30 am
Materials collected: mixed paper, #1 & #2 plastic
Friends of Pennypack Park:
Where: Lincoln High School at Rowland Avenue (enter
from Rowland Ave. at Vista Street)
Day: 3rd Saturday of the month
Time: 9 am to noon
Materials collected: mixed paper, #1 & #2 plastic, book exchange
Greater Olney Community Council:
Where: Cousins Supermarket parking lot across from
Olney High School (Mascher & Duncannon Sts.)
Day: 3rd Saturday of the month
Time: 9 am to noon
Materials collected: mixed paper, #1 & #2 plastic
Independent Community Assistance Network (W. Philly):
Where: 60th & Vine Sts., northwest corner
Day: 3rd Saturday of the month
Time: 8 am to 11 am
Materials collected: mixed paper, #1 & #2 plastic
Northern Liberties Neighbors Association:
Where: 2nd and Spring Garden, northwest corner
Day: 1st Saturday of the month
Time: 9 am to 11:30 am
Materials collected: mixed paper, #1 & #2 plastic
Powelton Village:
Where: 38th St. and Powelton Ave., Drew School parking lot
Day: 1st Saturday of the month
Time: 10 am to noon
Materials collected: mixed paper, #1 & #2 plastic
Queen
Village Neighbors Association:
Where: Washington Ave. at Front St. under I-95
Day: 1st Saturday of the month
Time: 10 am to 12:30 pm
Materials collected: mixed paper, #1 & #2 plastic
Ridge Park Civic Association:
Where: Ivy Ridge train station, Umbria St. at Parker
Ave.
Day: 3rd Saturday of the month
Time: 9 am to noon
Materials collected: mixed paper, #1 & #2 plastic
Weavers Way:
Where: Behind Germantown Elder Home, Germantown Ave. and Carpenter Ln.
Day: 3rd Saturday of the month
Time: 9 am to 1 pm
Materials collected: mixed paper, #1 & #2 plastic, book exchange
For More
Information
For more information on residential recycling
in Philadelphia, contact:
- Recycling Alliance of Philadelphia
via Emily Linn, Clean Air Council, (215) 567-4004 ext.
103,
- The City of Philadelphia Recycling Hotline at 215-685-RECYCLE (7329), or
- Visit our links page.
Businesses
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Commercial Recycling is the Law
In 1994, Philadelphia adopted Commercial Recycling Regulations for commercial businesses in Philadelphia. These regulations apply to:
- Apartment units of 6 or more (the building manager is responsible for the recycling program)
- Businesses and office complexes
- Entertainment and sports venues
- Restaurants
If your building is not recycling, talk to the building manager.
If there is no improvement, try talking to other employees or residents to push for starting a recycling program and to show that there is support for participating. Be positive and don't threaten.
As a last resort, call (215) 685-RECYCLE (7329) and ask for information on Commercial Recycling Enforcement. Streets and Walkways Education and Enforcement Program (SWEEP) officers can issues tickets for residential or business recycling violations.
The Philadelphia Commercial Recycling Guidelines require businesses to:
- Develop a Recycling Plan
- Submit the plan to the city
- Distribute to all employees and/or tenants, and
- Publicly post plan on site
Your commercial recycling plan must:
- Use a hauler or recycling company that is licensed by the City of Philadelphia
- Provide recycling containers
- Separate recyclables before putting them in the trash (or file an exemption if your licensed private hauler intends to recover recyclables from mixed trash)
- Create an education program to communicate expectations, changes, impacts, etc. to employees
- Set trash & recyclables out at the proper time to ensure proper sanitation
What must your business recycle?
The City mandates that businesses in Philadelphia collect from the following materials:
Commercial/Industrial/Government:
- High-grade office paper
- Aluminum, including cans
- Corrugated paper
- Ferrous and nonferrous metals (except bimetal and steel cans)
- Garbage (food waste and other organics)
- Yard waste
- Motor Oil
- Elective Materials include:
- All grades of paper not recycled in mandatory list
- Glass food and beverage containers
- Plastics
- Steel and bimetal cans
- Textiles
- Tires and other rubber
Apartments/Residential:
- Glass food and beverage containers
- Aluminum cans
- Steel and bimetal cans
- Newsprint
- Motor oil
- Yard waste
- Elective Materials include:
- Corrugated paper and paperboard
- All other grades of paper
- Plastics
- Garbage and Food waste
- Textiles
- Tires and other rubber
Construction/Demolition:
- Ferrous and nonferrous metals
- Elective Materials include:
- Concrete, sand, and glass
- Lumber and other wood
- Plaster, drywall, and other gypsum products
- Roofing material
Need help getting started?
Don't know where to get started? Don't think you have the money? There is a strong network of support for commercial recycling beginners in Philadelphia and across the state.
Try:
- The City of Philadelphia Commercial Recycling Handbook. This booklet is made for businesses just starting out in recycling, or those wanting to broaden their horizons. For your free copy of the Commercial Recycling Handbook, contact 215-686-5586.
- The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. You can access their webpage and contact information on our links page.
- The Greater Philadelphia Commercial Recycling Council at www.gpcrc.com or 215-247-3090.
