Next Great City: Philadelphia - Volume III, Issue I

Acting on another Next Great City recommendation, Mayor Michael Nutter this week announced the beginning of weekly collection of recyclables citywide. Until now, most neighborhoods only received collection every other week, making it difficult for residents to participate.

With the expansion of single-stream recycling citywide in July, all residents can now place all of their recyclables in one container for weekly collection. And remember, you don't need a recycling bin to participate- any hard-sided container clearly marked "RECYCLING" will do.

For more information, check out the city's recycling website.

In more good news for Philadelphia (and we could certainly use some these days!), the long-awaited 311 system began operating on December 31, 2008. 311 is a non-emergency hotline that can be used by anyone who wants to know more about Philadelphia services or get general information.

311 can help make Philadelphia more sustainable by assisting residents with:

• Information on how to get recycling bins
• Requests for tree plantings
• Filing complaints about idling trucks or other air pollution
• Finding hours of operation for parks and recreation centers
• Reporting a dangerous vacant lot
• Contacting specific City employees

Pick up the phone and dial 3-1-1 to get all the information you need today!

The holidays are over, leaving many people unsure what to do with their once-festive Christmas trees. While the city will collect trees placed curbside, they will end up in a landfill which wastes precious resources and tax dollars.

Making sure your tree is composted is a great green way to start your new year. You can take your tree to two neighborhood collection events (see in Events listings below), or take them to one of the city's sanitation yards located at:

• 63rd Street and Passyunk Avenue, Southwest Philadelphia
• State Road and Ashburner Street, Northeast Philadelphia
• Domino Lane, Near Umbria Street, Northwest Philadelphia

• What's a NEEP? A Non-Eco Equivalent Product, of course.
• The Cherry Valley Wildlife Refuge will be the first such preserve in Pennsylvania in 36 years.
• Sandy Bauer's GreenSpace column offers simple, everyday ways to help protect the environment.
• Pennsylvania can now begin enforcing stricter clean air rules to reduce emissions from power plants and other sources.
• Proving that water doesn't recognize jurisdiction, local advocates for the Delaware River ask New York to to reduce reservoir levels to avoid flooding.
• Mayor Nutter writes an open letter to the community about weekly recycling, while the Inquirer covers the new changes to the program.
• Recycle that Christmas tree!
• $25 million will be spent on cleaning the Delaware River, four year's after 265,000 gallons of oil were spilled.

• Saturday, January 10 9:30am- 1:00pm- Philadelphia Green Shopping Tour, meet at Suburban Station at 16th and Market streets.
• Saturday, January 10 10:00am-2:00pm- Northern Liberties Christmas Tree Recycling at Liberty Lands Park at 3rd and Poplar streets.
• Saturday, January 10 10:00am-12:00pm- Gold Star Park Christmas Tree Recycling at Gold Star Park on Wharton between 6th and 7th streets.
• Thursday, January 15 6:00-8:30pm- Urban Sustainability Forum on Green Economy: Economy and Environment Working Hand in Hand at the Academy of Natural Sciences at 19th St. and the Ben Franklin Parkway
• Thursday, January 22, 6:00-8:00pm- Next Great City presentation to Northern Liberties Neighbors Association at the Community Center at 700 N. Third St.