Let’s create jobs and reduce pollution by recycling!
Are you concerned about the pollution from construction and demolition waste in landfills, incinerators, and vacant lots? Together we can ensure that construction and demolition waste is properly recycled by creating smart legislation that works for everyone.
As part of Circular Philadelphia’s policy development process, the Built Environment Working Group has developed this flyer that explains to the public in a simple and straightforward way how we can create simple and effective legislation to ensure that all construction and demolition waste haulers use recycling facilities. In time, the working group will turn the below information into a white paper that will examine the information in depth, develop potential policy and strengthen the case as to why Philadelphia legislators need to address this issue.
Did You Know?
- According to the EPA, 40% of all material entering landfills nationwide is construction and demolition debris.
- C&D waste illegally dumped on vacant lots costs the city millions of dollars annually.
- Recycling these materials creates jobs, greens our neighborhoods, and grows our local economy.
The Policy Concept
– 1 –
Use verified facilities.
Licenses and Inspections uses state data to verify facilities in the Philadelphia region that recycle construction and demolition materials.
– 2 –
Provide documentation.
Require haulers to use recycling facilities and then provide dump receipts to contractors and developers for their building or demo permit.
– 3 –
Verify dumping receipts.
Building and demolition projects must maintain receipts showing that waste generated from the permitted project went to a state verified C&D recycling facility at the end of a permit.
– 4 –
Issue certificate of occupancy.
Licenses & Inspections issues Certificates of Occupancy or closes a demolition permit only after receiving receipts from the verified recycling facility.
The time is right for this legislation because:
We cannot afford the status quo:
Taxpayers cannot keep paying the economic and environmental costs of landfills, incinerators, and illegal dumping. And developers recycling waste should not have to compete with developers illegally dumping or landfilling waste.
We have the infrastructure:
Philadelphia has many C&D recycling facilities that are ready to redirect waste from landfills or incinerators.
We have the permit processes:
Philadelphia already has the existing permitting frameworks for this system that many companies already comply with – it’s time to expand for a cleaner, more just city for all.
Get Involved!
To make this flyer become real policy, we need to hear from you! Please fill out this form to voice your support for this legislation, get on our mailing list for future action and leave a comment with your thoughts or questions on the proposed legislation and information.
Let’s make Philly a leader in C&D recycling!
Voice your support and feedback for this issue.
Please use this form to voice your support for this legislation, get on our mailing list for future action and send us your thoughts and comments on the proposed legislation and information.