To help celebrate America Recycles Day the Philadelphia Recycling Office announced an increase in recycling tonnage in Northeast Philadelphia by nearly 29 percent since the summertime launch of the City’s new single stream recycling collection method.

The Recycling Office reports more than 870 additional tons of recyclable materials (the weight of approximately 174 conventional yellow school buses) were collected from Northeast Philadelphia residences from July through September than during the same time period in 2005.

“Our single stream recycling collection method is proving to be quite a success,” stated City of Philadelphia Streets Commissioner Clarena I.W. Tolson. “It is our hope that recycling tonnage in the Northeast Philadelphia area continues to increase as we look forward to expanding this innovative way to divert even more recyclable material from our waste stream throughout the city.”

Beginning July 10, 2006, 123,000 Northeast Philadelphia households were able to collect recyclables into a single collection container for regular curbside collection and began adding flattened cardboard along with #1 and #2 plastic containers.

For more information regarding recycling, please contact the City of Philadelphia Streets Department’s recycling hotline at 215-685-RECY(CLE)/215-685-7329 or by visiting recyclingPAYS.phila.gov.

11/17/2006