WHEREAS, There are both environmental and economic benefits to improving the recycling programs throughout the Philadelphia School District; and
WHEREAS, A comprehensive recycling program in schools familiarizes students with the practice and benefits of recycling, therefore teaching students the value of recycling both at school and at home; and
WHEREAS, Recycling programs are less expensive to operate than waste collection and landfilling, which could lead to additional cost savings for the School District to put towards educational programs and facility improvements; and
WHEREAS, Section 10-724 of The Philadelphia Code entitled, Commercial Sector Waste Management and Recycling, along with the Street Department's regulations and State law requires the School District of Philadelphia to recycle metal, paper, plastics, glass, and leaf waste; and
WHEREAS, The Street Department's regulations also require each school in the District to submit a recycling plan to the Department; and
WHEREAS, The Streets Department offers recycling collection services at no charge to all schools in the Philadelphia School District. Currently, about fifty percent of the schools participate. The Department also offers assistance to help schools develop recycling programs; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has initiated a number of measures to increase the overall recycling rate by improving convenience, education, and collection services. Some of these major improvements include weekly residential recycling pick-up, street recycling receptacles, and the launch of the incentive-based recycling program, RecycleBank; and
WHEREAS, Comprehensive recycling programs in our schools will serve as educational tools for teaching the value of conservation so that our City's future generations will be more aware of their waste's impact on the environment and economy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That authority be given to the Committee on Streets and Services to hold public hearings to investigate the School District of Philadelphia's recycling policy, strategic goals, and educational program and to also review the District's diversion rate and expenses related to waste management.
End