Philadelphia Recycles Record Amount in Latest Fiscal Year

Philadelphia recycled a record 128,000 tons of material during its fiscal 2014, the city said.

The total, which includes material collected from the city’s curbside recycling program, city buildings and public spaces, represents a 155-percent increase in recycling since 2008, when Mayor Michael Nutter first took office.

In that time the city has made the following changes to its curbside recycling collection program, which serves more than 525,000 households: the introduction of weekly recycling pickup; the launch of single-stream collections; the addition of cardboard, plastics, and food and drink cartons as materials collected for recycling; the addition of new recycling bins for residents; and the start of an incentive-based recycling program.

The city added new partnerships with Keep Philadelphia Beautiful; Recyclebank; and PECO Smart Appliance Recycling.

Mayor Nutter has stated a goal to make Philadelphia the greenest city in the United States. “The city’s program has made significant strides but there is always more work to be done,” said Phil Bresee, director of the Philadelphia Recycling Unit.

The city will hold a celebratory event on America Recycles Day, Nov. 13. Officials will emphasize the need to recycle smarter and more effectively, such as knowing which materials can be recycled and which cannot.