Compostable materials constitute roughly 23 percent of Philadelphia's waste composition — that's 507 pounds per ton of waste. Currently, all food waste is sent to landfills in the absence of a citywide food waste recycling program. This is a missed opportunity for the City of Philadelphia.
Composting can serve a dual purpose in helping us fulfill our zero waste vision and in spurring local, sustainable economic development. It is time that Philadelphia City Council addressed this important matter.
A strong presence at this first hearing will demonstrate that a citywide food waste recycling program is a priority for the residents of Philadelphia and give us an opportunity to be active participants in the discussion from start to finish.
Citywide composting is a very complex issue — we don't expect that the particulars will be fleshed out fully in this meeting. We do, however, expect that the process around designing and implementing a plan should be transparent and participatory to ensure that all conditions and stakeholders are given full consideration.
As member of the RecycleNOW Philadelphia campaign, we know that if done right, this is an issue where everyone in Philadelphia wins. Make sure your voice is heard on composting!
