December 20, 2016
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney announced on Tuesday the creation of the Zero Waste and Litter Cabinet that will be tasked with finding better ways to reduce and contain the city's garbage.
Comprised of 16 members, the cabinet will develop a plan to complete several objectives, from cutting the volume of total material waste to increasing waste diversion from landfills and incinerators.
The city also hopes to establish a "litter index" to measure progress in its management of the problem, including illegal dumping in public spaces and neighborhood streets and roadways.
“A clean Philadelphia is a vibrant and healthy Philadelphia,” the mayor said. “With this executive order, I’m assembling a group of experts from within and outside of government to identify more effective ways to increase our waste diversion rate and tackle the long-standing problems of litter and cleanliness that many of our neighborhoods have long struggled with.”
The cabinet will be co-headed by the managing director and deputy managing director for transportation and infrastructure.
“Over the years, I’ve seen important but piecemeal efforts toward reducing waste and litter in Philadelphia,” said Managing Director Michael DiBerardinis. “I’m convinced that a comprehensive, interdepartmental approach that tackles all aspects of the issues – and coordinates the responses across departments, in cooperation with City Council and community members– is the only way to achieve the aspirational goals of a zero waste, litter free city – and this cabinet can help accomplish those objectives.”
