Kyle Lewis, the city recycling program director, spoke at last week’s East Torresdale Civic Association meeting.
Lewis played “Recycling or Reject,” asking members whether a particular item should go into a recycling bucket or the trash.
Items that can be recycled include plastic bottles and jugs that have a No. 2, 1 or 5 on them, along with the caps; paper; flattened cardboard; cartons; metal cans; and glass bottles and jars.
Paper cups are new to the recycling list. Pizza boxes are recyclable, even if the bottom of the box has a small amount of grease.
Lewis said 75 percent to 85 percent of items that are placed in recycling buckets are accepted for recycling.
Recycled items are placed on conveyor belts for processing at the WM (formerly Waste Management) facility at 5109 to 5201 Bleigh Ave., then bounded together in bales.
Materials are recycled and used for things such as phone cases, clothing, cars, paper bags and beverage cans.
Lewis, trying to explain the importance of recycling, said those items would otherwise be taken to landfills. A plastic bottle taken to a landfill, she said, will remain there for 450 years.
Lewis asked residents to hold their recycling items on rainy days so they don’t get spoiled.
Lewis handed out literature that included a list of upcoming household hazardous waste events, with one set for Thursday, July 9, at the sanitation convenience center at 8401 State Road (at Ashburner Street).
Recycling bins are available at sanitation convenience centers on State Road or at 3901 N. Delaware Ave.
For more information, call 215-MU6-5444 or email [email protected]
In other news from the April 6 meeting:
• State Sen. Joe Picozzi, in partnership with Holy Family University and Philadelphia Youth Network, will hold a job fair on Thursday, April 16, from 4-6 p.m. in the gym in the Campus Center building at Holy Family, 9801 Frankford Ave. The job fair is for students and young professionals ages 14-24. Employers will be Walmart, Chick-fil-A, ShopRite, Thunderbird Lanes and more. Those 14-17 will need to obtain a work permit. Call 215-281-2539.
• Among those in attendance was Bill Griffin, the Republican candidate in the 173rd Legislative District.
• Holy Ghost Prep, 2429 Bristol Pike in Bensalem, will present five upcoming performances of the musical Catch Me If You Can. Show times are 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, April 16-17; 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 18; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 19. Tickets are available at https://holyghostprep.ludus.com/index.php
• East Torresdale Civic Association will meet on Monday, May 11, at 7 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church, 9601 Frankford Ave. The guest speaker will be Ned Bloom, of the American Red Cross. ••
