Philadelphia, PA - If you live in Philadelphia, it's not difficult to get a recycling bin. All you need to do is request one online. The recycling bins must be 32 gallons or less and have a recycling logo. To prevent contamination, You can use zip ties to secure the lids of the bins. Bella Vista Neighbors Association started using zip ties in April 2018. Previously, when You picked up blue plastic bags for curbside recycling, they contained three percent of plastic. Now, the contamination rate is 0.5 percent.
How Hard Is It to Get a Recycling Bin in Philadelphia?
You can get a free recycling bin at one designated location if you're a Philadelphia resident. Alternatively, you can use a container of your own. It must be rigid, no larger than 32 gallons, and indicate "RECYCLING." Depending on the size of your recycling bin, you can put it out the same day as your regular trash pickup. Because Philadelphia recycles in one stream, there's no need to separate recyclable materials. You can place cardboard and mixed paper into the same bin with plastic containers.
Before 2018, most recycling in Philadelphia was headed to China. That meant that only 9% of all plastic was recycled. The current recycling system is run by vertically integrated waste management companies that own landfills and incinerators. The companies make no money by finding actual value for the material they collect. They make their money by collecting recyclables for a tipping fee and sending them to the cheapest place to send them.
