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Get local staples to your door, and then have the rest composted & recycled it

Recycling is broken. Despite the Philadelphia Streets Department announcing that they are recycling again, residents often report a combination of trash and recycling during pickups.

We can’t solve recycling on our own. So, what’s the next best way to help ease our recycling problem? Reducing our consumption, or reducing our waste at the source.

Going zero waste sounds impossible. And if we’re being realistic, it’s impossible with our modern world to have a zero-waste lifestyle. Just think: one of the hardest parts is the packaging. (Remember all of those boxes piling up over the pandemic?)

But we can get close, and luckily, Philadelphia has entrepreneurs interested in the solution. With businesses getting creative with reusable bottles, hard-to-recycle items and more, it’s easier than ever to reduce your trash.

Here’s our guide to begin your zero waste journey with four local companies. The best part? All of them come directly to your door, saving you time and energy that you can use for saving the world in other ways.

Four Local Philly companies that help you go zero waste

1. The Rounds

Founder Alexander Torrey was seeking a delivery option with the convenience value of Amazon but without the cost of its problematic factors: decision fatigue, packaging waste, and loads of delivery trucks blocking city streets. 

Enter: The Rounds. Like Amazon, but local and sustainable. So not basically nothing like Amazon. The Rounds is a way to get household goods and personal care basics delivered to your door on e-bike and without packaging waste. This company refills your staples on autopilot with a zero-waste mission. Many of the products come in reusable mason jars or cloth bags and are picked back up by The Rounds to be cleaned and refilled.

Since kicking off in Philly, The Rounds has expanded to DC and Miami.

2. Philly Foodworks

Want to support our local food systems?

Since 2012, Philly Foodworks has been a staple to increase access to local food.

Philly Foodworks is an online market and farm share program that is dedicated to creating a sustainable local food system. They offer the largest selection of local food in the Philadelphia region. They also partner with local farmers to reduce crop overlap, offer fair prices and create easier ways for farmers to transport goods to the city.

3. Circle Compost

Feed soil, not landfills.

That’s the mission of Circle Compost, to provide residents with a simple, localized alternative to throwing these organic materials away. Husband-wife duo Dave and Michele Bloovman started Circle Compost in 2016 to close the loop on organic waste. (Typically, 30-40% of organic waste ends up in landfills.) Plus, Circle Compost donates compost to Novick Family Urban Farm, a local nonprofit.

4. Rabbit Recycling

Want to recycle styrofoam, plasticware, and other odds that can’t go into your blue bin?

Rabbit Recycling offers a convenient solution for households and businesses to recycle materials that municipal recycling services do not. Users can choose either an on-demand clean-up (perfect for basement clean-outs or post-move) or can schedule recurring pickups for their goods. Rabbit Recycling provides a full list of accepted materials on their website from kitchen products like pots and pans, bed/bath supplies, cleaning supplies, sports equipment, and more.

Try The Rounds for 3 months of free delivery + $20 off!

Want to get started towards a low waste lifestyle? The Rounds is offering Green Philly readers 3 months of free delivery and $20 off your first order with code GreenPhilly20.

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher