Clean Water Action is a part of the Waste Free Philly Coalition which developed a five-point agenda to help Philadelphia transform into a city where neighborhoods are litter-free, trash and recycling are properly collected, dumping is a thing of the past, and a low-waste circular economy can thrive.
With a new mayor and city council being elected in 2023 in Philadelphia, the coalition is working to make these issues a priority for our next generation of leadership in Philadelphia.
The plan calls for the next mayor and city council to:
- Appoint a new position of Deputy Streets Commissioner for Zero Waste and establish a Mayor’s Office of Zero Waste.
- Appoint experienced and accomplished individuals as Streets Commissioner, Deputy Streets Commissioner of Zero Waste, Deputy Streets Commissioner of Collection and Abatement, and supporting them politically and financially.
- Implement the Zero Waste Plan and develop strategies to achieve goals 2035.
- Develop and implement the Litter Action Plan with the goal of ending littering and dumping by 2028.
- Mandate all departments under the oversight of the Mayor’s Office of Zero Waste to use data and outreach to hold departments accountable for transparency as well as regain public trust through partnering with communities.
Across Philadelphia, recycling rates continue to fall; waste collection has become unreliable; open dumping is rampant and the Streets Department has a long history of being under-resourced. These conditions contribute to environmental violence harboring blight, crime, and a sense of hopelessness among residents. But there’s hope if Philadelphia’s next leaders are willing to embrace, adopt and implement this five-point agenda.