It's a theme we've touched on before here at Earth to Philly, but today the Daily News does it up right, asking the musical question, Why don't many Philadelphia businesses recycle, if the law requires them to? Only a quarter of the city's businesses, after all, have even filed their required recycling plans with the city, and many apparently aren't even aware that they have to.
The short answer to the "why" question is that the City doesn't have the same financial stake in getting business owners to recycle as it does for residents.
The city makes $65 for every ton of residential trash it recycles, but makes nothing from most commercial recycling, because that money goes to private haulers. And the amount of money that the city could collect fining businesses wouldn’t cover the cost of handing out the fines.
Biddle said that the city will step up commercial-recycling enforcement in January — it might cost money short-term, he admitted, but he believes that it will be worthwhile.
Let's hope he follows through. Meanwhile, check out the complete package from Ashley Nguyen, including comparisons on how other cities handle this and a simple E-Z how-to for local businesses that are moved to comply.
ALSO: In today's Inquirer, check out the Uber-Dumpster Diver Neil Benson (yes, we can count this as a Dumpster Diver Dispatch!) as he finally starts getting rid of some of the fascinating stuff he's found in the trash over the years - which has made his tiny rowhouse nearly impossible to navigate. And here on philly.com, get inspired to respect the planet and positive body image while perusing this year's slideshow and video from the Naked Bike Ride, which Earth to Philly tipped you about way back before it even got to town.
The experts at Philadelphia's Energy Coordinating Agency answer your energy questions in our regular feature Stay Warm, Stay Green. Send in your question or questions to energy@phillynews.com.
Look for Jenice Armstrong to supply tips on green living as well as occasional columns on the subject of Green. She also blogs at Hey Jen.
Becky Batcha stays tuned for the here-and-now practical side of conservation, alternative energy, organic foods, etc. - stuff you can do at home now. Plus odds and ends.
Laurie Conrad recycles from her ever-growing e-mailbag to pass along the latest travel deals, fashion statements, household strategies, gadgets, cool local events and other nuggets of interest to those who appreciate a clean, green world.
Vance Lehmkuhl looks at topics like eco-conscious eating, public transportation and fuel-efficient driving from his perspective as a vegetarian, a daily SEPTA bus rider and a hybrid driver, as well as noting the occasional wacky trend or product. Contact Vance with your 'green' news.
Ronnie Polaneczky sees the green movement through the eyes of her 12-year-old daughter, who calls her on every scrap of paper or glass bottle that Ronnie neglects to toss into the house recycling bins. Ronnie will blog about new or unexpected ways to go green. She also blogs at So, What Happened Was...
Sandra Shea and the DN editorial board opine on any green-related legislation or policy. And we'll pass along some of the opeds on the subject that people send us.
Jonathan Takiff will be blogging mainly about consumer electronics - those things that we love to use and that suck too much energy. He'll spotlight green-conscious gizmos made in a responsible fashion, both in terms of materials used and the energy it takes to run them.
Signe Wilkinson draws the comic strip Family Tree, which follows the Tree family as they try to live green in the face of nattering neighbors, plastic-wrapped consumer products, and the primal teenage urge to spend vast quantities of money on hair care products of dubious organic quality.
In addition to these updates from our newsroom bloggers, watch for an occasional feature, Dumpster Diver Dispatches, from Philadelphia's original "green" community of artists, the Dumpster Divers. You'll learn about creative ways to reuse and recycle while you reduce, and about the artists who are making little masterpieces from what others throw out.
Sept. 17: A head start on cold season
Oct. 8: Help with fuel bills
Oct. 29: Last-minute ways to winterize
Nov. 19: Budgeting for the big bite
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Patently untrue. If there are 45,000 businesses that don't recycle (as noted in the article), at $50 a ticket, that's $2.25 million in fines with each business only getting ONE ticket in a year. Even if the inspectors cost $100,000 apiece with salary, benefits, and vehicle - you can employ 22 of them. Each of them would need to write 2050 tickets in a year; that's about ten per working day, not an unattainable number. Biddle's excuses for lax enforcement (note that he intends to 'step it up' now that it's in the news) are complete bull.