The Streets Department of Philadelphia recently released recycling rates from the second quarter of fiscal year 2010 and there is good news all around. The Philadelphia residential recycling diversion rate is now at 17.5 percent- tripling the rate from just two years ago!
Recycling rates in the neighborhoods of Center City (south of Vine St.) and South Philadelphia are now the highest in the City and have risen above and beyond Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy. Below are the top 10 collection days, areas, and diversion rates:
Neighborhood Collection Day Diversion Rate (%) CC/South Philadelphia Friday 29.7 CC/South Philadelphia Wednesday 28.1 CC/South Philadelphia Thursday 26.7 East Falls Monday 25.0 CC/South Philadelphia Tuesday 23.7 Manayunk Thursday 23.2 Chestnut Hill Friday 21.6 CC/South Philadelphia Monday 21.3 Mt. Airy Wednesday 21.1 Northern Liberties/Fishtown Friday 20.1
Don’t see your neighborhood listed? You can request a presentation from RecycleNOW for your civic, community, faith or any other organization that would like to help get their neighborhood recycling. Contact us at info@recyclenowphiladelphia.org to request a presentation or materials.
As you embark on your spring cleaning, don’t throw those hazardous materials you find in the garage or basement in the trash. You can recycle them or have them disposed of properly by bringing them to a Hazardous Household Waste Drop-Off event. You can bring paints, flammable materials, cleaning products, batteries, automotive products and even electronic waste. See the full list of accepted materials here.
Saturday, April 24 Streets Department's Training Center, State Road at Ashburner Street
Saturday, May 22 Streets Department's 1st District Highway Yard, 4800 Parkside Avenue
Saturday, June 26 Northwest Transfer Station, Domino Lane and Umbria Street
Thursday, July 22 Streets Department's Training Center, State Road at Ashburner Street
Saturday, September 25 Streets Department's 3rd District Highway Yard, 22nd Street and York Street.
Saturday, October 23 Streets Department Facility, 3033 South 63rd Street, Northwest of Passyunk.
Saturday, November 6 Streets Department Northeast Facility, Delaware Ave. between Castor Ave. and Lewis Street
Keep Up the Sweep Up
Help to give Philadelphia a good spring cleaning! On April 10th, join Mayor Nutter and thousands of volunteers in neighborhoods across Philadelphia for the 3rd Annual Philly Spring Cleanup.
Opening day has arrived and it’s time to play ball!
You can combine your love for the Phillies and for recycling by joining RecycleNOW to collect recyclables at the Friday, April 30 Phillies game against the New York Mets. For the 1st - 7th innings RecycleNOW and the Phillies Ballgirls will be collecting recyclables and answering questions. Don't miss this fun opportunity to get to see the Phils battle it out with the rival Mets for FREE!
Volunteer requirements: - Arrive 1 hour prior to the start of the game, 6:00 p.m. We will be sending you information on where to meet us at Citizen's Bank Park. - Must be of age to stand alone in a designated section without adult supervision - Collect recyclable plastic and aluminum bottles from the seating bowl through the 7th inning
Myth: Construction and demolition (C&D) waste can't be recycled.
Fact: Concrete, brick, stone, dirt, wood and drywall can all be recycled.
Drywall can be pulverized and recycled into new drywall. Concrete, brick, soil and other rubble can be reused as clean fill in building and road construction products. Some wood can be salvaged for reuse, while the rest is chipped for mulch for playgrounds and planting beds. Dimensional lumber, flooring, plywood and particle board are all recyclable, but pressure treated wood will be landfilled.
Philadelphia has two great C&D recycling operations, but it will cost anywhere from $30 to $50 for up to a half a ton or $60 to $80 for a ton. These are quite reasonable rates since the city does not accept construction and demolition waste in its curbside collection, so one would have to pay to have it hauled away or disposed of even if it weren't recycled. Dropping it at one of the below locations will ensure your C&D waste doesn't end up in a landfill. Make sure to call ahead and verify that they're open and to ask about their rates for different materials.
