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We need public policies to incentivize a circular economy, where both customers and businesses turn to reusable packaging

“What do you mean you can’t recycle this?” This is a question I get from my 6-year-old son all too often, especially when we’re bringing new items into our home. I want to tell him that we need to figure out an economy that can thrive without such an outsized focus on consumption. But he’s

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5 mins read
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With expansion of Too Good To Go app, Philadelphians can now fight food waste at the push of a button

Connecting local dining establishments and grocery stores with eco-minded and bargain-hunting customers, Too Good To Go—an app designed to decrease food waste—will be available to Philadelphians starting February 23. Founded in Copenhagen in 2016 and currently available in 15 countries, Philadelphia marks the app’s third U.S. city expansion, following its rollout in greater New York

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2 mins read
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Entrepreneurs put a zero-waste lifestyle within reach for Philadelphians

When Emily Rodia and Jason Rusnock began pursuing a low-waste lifestyle, they started small. They replaced single-use items in their lives—trading up for things like reusable water bottles and bamboo toothbrushes. Before they knew it, the amount of plastic they put out on the sidewalk each week had dwindled. Three years after starting their zero-waste

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4 mins read
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Single-use to-go containers create more household trash. Should Philly incentivize restaurants to switch to reusables?

Supporting local restaurants during the pandemic is a double-edged sword. With inconsistent and insufficient federal, state and local government intervention, many of our favorite eateries are barely able to keep their doors open (if they haven’t shut already). Although, Philadelphia’s government deserves praise for the expedited expanse of outdoor dining during the pandemic, the prime

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4 mins read
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These Philadelphians are living waste- free lifestyles, and spreading the good word

Altering one’s lifestyle to limit waste is by no means an easy life practice, according to Ron Whyte. Whyte, project coordinator of the Mural Arts Philadelphia program Trash Academy, says the difficulty comes from an oversaturation of consumer culture. “We live in a system of extraction, production and consumption, and waste comes at the end

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4 mins read
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Former bakery owner makes soaps, candles and balms from food waste

Before Melissa Torre brainstorms new scents and ingredients for skin care products, she thinks about food. Prior to founding Vellum St. Soap Company, in 2016, Torre spent about five years running her bakery, Cookie Confidential, as well as 10 years managing Tattooed Mom, on South Street. She credits her experience as a chef with sparking

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4 mins read
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Why doesn’t Philly focus on building a circular economy? We could design out waste and invest in circular businesses.

I left my position as Zero Waste and Litter Director with much unfinished business. But the most regrettable was the incomplete transition of the Cabinet’s focus on Zero Waste to a more expansive vision of a circular economy in Philadelphia. Don’t get me wrong, a Zero Waste goal was an important first step. Although Zero

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4 mins read
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Philadelphia Residents Can Now Schedule Doorstep Pickup of Electronics and Clothing

Looking to dispose of old cell phones that live in a drawer and collect dust? How about piles of outfits that no longer fit? The City of Philadelphia’s new partnership with Retrievr lets you do just that, all while abiding by social-distancing guidelines. Retrievr is a pickup service that allows residents to safely and responsibly

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4 mins read
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