Changes at Clean and Green, illegal dumping map, & more

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:

Clean and Green Director replaces Managing Director. The current Clean and Green Initiatives Director, Carlton Williams, will be replacing Managing Director Adam Thiel as he resigns from the public sector. The transition will take place over four to six weeks. There is no word on Williams’ replacement yet. The Philadelphia Inquirer

Parker renews city’s trash contract despite pushback. Mayor Cherelle Parker recently confirmed her intent to renew the city’s trash contract with Reworld trash incinerator in the neighboring city of Chester. Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier has been leading the charge to stop the new contract, calling the incinerator an act of environmental racism. Chester residents shared how the incinerator has negatively affected the health, wellbeing, and economy in the city. The Philadelphia Tribune

Group creates crowdsourced map of illegal dumpsites.  Trash Academy, an anti-dumping advocacy group, has created an online map of illegal dumpsites in Philadelphia. Advocates say that they hope the map will serve as a tool to help shape policy around curbing illegal dumping in the city. The maps also compare sites from previous years to track any changes. WHYY

Coalition fights for renewable energy as utility rates rise. Roughly one in four Pennsylvania families have difficulty paying their utility bills, according to Elizabeth Marx, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project. Along with the League of Conservation Voters PA and the Ohio River Valley Institute, Marx announced the Building a Brighter PA campaign, which seeks to push the Commonwealth towards more renewable energy sources. WHYY

PA to develop new methane gas regulations. Last week, the Shapiro Administration and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced that they will develop new regulations to reduce methane emissions in the state. Regulations will include stricter requirements for leak detections and leak reductions from oil and gas infrastructure. Methane is a powerful greenhouse that is a driver of climate change. 

SEPTA pilots all-access passes to apartment dwellers. SEPTA is considering expanding its Key Advantage program to apartment building residents, starting with a two-year pilot with the Isaac building near Front and Berks streets. Through Key Advantage, employers, the city, and schools can buy SEPTA passes for discounted rates and provide them to their employees to use for free. By expanding the program to property owners, the transit agency says that it could make units more attractive to renters. KYW Newsradio

Cover photo: Anne Nygård via UnSplash