DC 33 strike ends, new recycling resource, & more

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:

End of DC 33 Strike. After all-night negotiations, the city and AFSCME District Council 33 came to a tentative agreement at 4 a.m. on Wednesday. The agreement ends the eight-day-long strike, which affected citywide essential services like trash pickup and 911 dispatch. Although the strike is over, members will still need to vote to ratify the new contract. Trash and recycling will resume on Monday, July 14. 6abc

New search engine helps Philadelphians donate and recycle unwanted items. Circular Philadelphia and The Resource Exchange teamed up to create resourcePhilly, a sustainability search engine that helps users redirect their waste away from landfills and incinerators. In addition to donations and recycling, users can also search for where to buy, rent, or borrow secondhand items. 

Mapping tool in development to protect Delaware Estuary marshes. The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE) and Rutgers University are developing the Marsh Futures Mapper, an interactive tool to map and simulate wetland changes with sea level rise. Marshes are “vital for protecting communities against coastal flooding, filtering pollutants, and providing habitats for diverse wildlife,” according to Dr. LeeAnn Haaf, director of Estuary Science, PDE.

Heat waves bring air quality warnings. Last month, temperatures were high and so were air quality warnings. Heat and sunlight contribute to increased levels of ground pollutants, which can irritate lungs. WHYY

Cover photo: Lauren Belcher