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Target 7: Solid Waste
Divert 70 percent of Solid Waste from Landfill
Each household in Philadelphia throws away an average of 1.25 tons of trash each year, but recycles only 160 pounds. Philadelphia picks up 731,000 tons of trash annually at a total cost of more than $100 million. (Approximately 291,000 tons of this trash currently goes to energy-from-waste plants, not to landfill.) An additional 48,000 tons were recycled by Philadelphia households last year. Greenworks Philadelphia calls for diverting 70 percent of all solid waste from landfills by 2015 by increasing the amount of materials recycled by city residents, commercial building owners and contractors and by pursuing additional energy from waste disposal options. It will also seek to minimize the amount of trash generated by city residents.
Each household in Philadelphia throws away an average of 1.25 tons of trash each year, but recycles only 160 pounds. Philadelphia picks up 731,000 tons of trash annually at a total cost of more than $100 million. (Approximately 291,000 tons of this trash currently goes to energy-from-waste plants, not to landfill.) An additional 48,000 tons were recycled by Philadelphia households last year. Greenworks Philadelphia calls for diverting 70 percent of all solid waste from landfills by 2015 by increasing the amount of materials recycled by city residents, commercial building owners and contractors and by pursuing additional energy from waste disposal options. It will also seek to minimize the amount of trash generated by city residents.
Introduce Public Space Recycling
The Nutter Administration believes that it should be as easy to recycle bottles, cans and newspapers in public as at home. In May 2009, the Streets Department began to install recycling containers downtown, alongside trash receptacles that are designed so that waste does not get blown out of them. (Because the planned trash receptacles contain solar-powered compactors, the Streets Department will need to empty them only five times per week instead of seventeen times, saving the taxpayers more than $400,000 anually). Greenworks Philadelphia recommends that the Streets Department work with neighborhood business associations to install public space recycling units along other commercial corridors in the city.
The Nutter Administration believes that it should be as easy to recycle bottles, cans and newspapers in public as at home. In May 2009, the Streets Department began to install recycling containers downtown, alongside trash receptacles that are designed so that waste does not get blown out of them. (Because the planned trash receptacles contain solar-powered compactors, the Streets Department will need to empty them only five times per week instead of seventeen times, saving the taxpayers more than $400,000 anually). Greenworks Philadelphia recommends that the Streets Department work with neighborhood business associations to install public space recycling units along other commercial corridors in the city.
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Incentives for Recycling
In March 2009, the Streets Department issued a request for proposals from private companies to develop a household recycling incentive program. The Streets Department envisions an effort through which recycled materials would be weighed after a truck completes its route, with rewards—such as coupons from local stores—given to every household on that route. In 2007, when a company called Recycle Bank implemented a pilot program in two Philadelphia neighborhoods, Chestnut Hill and West Oak Lane, recycling participation increased significantly.
In March 2009, the Streets Department issued a request for proposals from private companies to develop a household recycling incentive program. The Streets Department envisions an effort through which recycled materials would be weighed after a truck completes its route, with rewards—such as coupons from local stores—given to every household on that route. In 2007, when a company called Recycle Bank implemented a pilot program in two Philadelphia neighborhoods, Chestnut Hill and West Oak Lane, recycling participation increased significantly.
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Saving Money and Reducing Trash (SMART)
The Streets Department recently proposed charging households a fee for trash pick-up, just as 7,100 other municipalities across the country do, including 200 towns in Pennsylvania. Although this idea has been set aside for now, so-called “pay as you throw” (PAYT) programs can decrease the amount of trash sent to landfills and could save Philadelphia tens of millions of dollars. A 2006 EPA study concluded that after cities have introduced “pay as you throw” systems, the amount of solid waste going to landfills decreased an average of 17 percent. Similar results in Philadelphia could yield significant costs savings for the City.
The Streets Department recently proposed charging households a fee for trash pick-up, just as 7,100 other municipalities across the country do, including 200 towns in Pennsylvania. Although this idea has been set aside for now, so-called “pay as you throw” (PAYT) programs can decrease the amount of trash sent to landfills and could save Philadelphia tens of millions of dollars. A 2006 EPA study concluded that after cities have introduced “pay as you throw” systems, the amount of solid waste going to landfills decreased an average of 17 percent. Similar results in Philadelphia could yield significant costs savings for the City.
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