Philly Talks Trash: A Virtual Series on Waste

Philly Talks Trash: A Virtual Series on Waste is a monthly on-line program intended to educate and inspire you to participate in the imperative shift towards this new paradigm of zero waste that will replace our throw-away culture and help slow climate change.

The Series is a collaboration between the Philadelphia Neighborhood Networks’ Environment Action Committee and the Plastic Reduction Task Force of Weavers Way Co-op, event hosts. Beginning January 20, and ending July 21, monthly programs will be offered featuring representatives from nonprofits, government programs, and businesses that are working to reduce waste and increase reuse and recycling in the Greater Philadelphia Region. Topics will include single use plastics, food waste and recovery, packaging, recycling, incineration, and litter and dumping. Each program will take place on the third Thursday of the month from 6:30 - 8:00 PM. Zoom links will be provided through emails.

July Program: Litter and Dumping (Fugitive Waste)

July 21st, 6:30 - 8:00 PM

Construction and Demolition, or C&D waste, is a by-product of home and commercial renovation, demolition, and new construction. Highly recyclable, this waste has its own legal classification and handling requirements. In violation of regulations, as much as 20% of waste collected by the City of Philadelphia is C&D waste, and to avoid the expense of proper disposal, contractors and unlicensed haulers dump the waste in parks, vacant lots, and public streets all over Philadelphia. Studies report that $48 million a year is spent in Philadelphia on clean-up and anti-litter programs.

During this month’s Philly Talks Trash program, we will discuss solutions to this issue with Shari Hersh, Director of Environmental Justice at Mural Arts Philadelphia, along with Teea Tynes, a Community Health Worker helping to combat dumping in her North Philadelphia neighborhood. We will also hear from Allen Burns of Burns & Co. Waste Recycling Center, a second-generation, family-owned business receiving and processing C&D waste for recycling, as well as Maurice Jones of PAR Recycle Works, a non-profit electronics recycler that provides transitional employment to people returning from prison.

Schedule

January 20 Re-thinking Waste: The Story of Plastic and the Circular Economy | Recording

February 17 Food: Waste Reduction and Recovery | Recording

March 17 Philly's Trash and Recycling Crisis | Recording

• Philadelphia History of Waste Management -- slides

April 21 Growing Circular Reuse Models in Foodservice and Grocery | Recording

May 19 Incineration: Why Philly Needs to Stop Sending our Trash to Chester | Recording

June 16 Managing Food Waste at Home | Recording

July 21 Litter and Dumping (Fugitive Waste)

*Topics per date are subject to change. You will be notified in advance if you registered for a topic that is rescheduled.

Sponsors

Organizations are welcome to be listed in this announcement as a sponsor. Please contact wastereductionphl “at” gmail.com for details.