Like many of my West Philly neighbors, I am troubled that our City Government is sending more than a third of the City’s trash to the Reworld (Covanta) incinerator in Chester, PA, for burning. Incinerating trash releases toxins that pollute our own air as well as Chester’s, contributing to high rates of asthma, lung cancer, and other respiratory disease. In November, the West Philly Local reported on a bill to stop this practice. Introduced by West Philly’s City Councilmember, Jamie Gauthier, HB 250788, the Stop Trashing Our Air Act, would bar the City Government from signing new contracts for trash incineration.

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A rendering of the upgraded Walnut Hill Community Playground (Image courtesy UCD).

Here’s some great news on the Walnut Hill Community Playground renovation project, which broke ground last spring at 47th and Sansom.

The University City District (UCD), which is leading the project along with community partners, has received additional funding which will help move the project forward. The McClean Contributionship recently provided a $25,000 grant which will help UCD’s landscaping enterprise, Green City Works, install a new poured rubber play surface (see rendering image above). The new surface ensures play safety by reducing current tripping hazards and possible injuries.

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Here are some ways to get rid of your holiday trees in an environmentally and community-friendly way. The City’s Department of Sanitation is again hosting Christmas tree community collection events and offering other tree disposal opportunities. There will also be tree collection events hosted by local non-profits.

City-run drop-off sites

The Department of Sanitation Christmas Tree Recycling Program kicked off Jan. 5 and will run through Saturday, Jan. 17. While the program is running, West Philly residents can bring their Christmas tree to one of the following drop-off locations on specific dates (see below):

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The Soapbox exhibit at Knockbox Cafe (Instagram photo).

The Soapbox, the West Philadelphia-based community print-making studio and zine library, is moving from 47th and Kingsessing to a new space on the 4500 block of Baltimore Avenue, according to a recent announcement on social media.

To support the relocation, which is expected to take place in the spring, the non-profit arts organization has launched a fundraising campaign. As part of this campaign, community members are invited to stop by Knockbox Cafe (45th and Pine) now through the end of the month to check out a fundraising art show by Soapbox artists.

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Cedar Park Neighbors (CPN) has kicked off its annual Holiday Baskets campaign. In collaboration with area churches and other nonprofit organizations, CPN will prepare and distribute food baskets for neighborhood residents in need during the holiday season. As always, to make this campaign successful, CPN is asking for community support.

This year, a suggested donation is $50, which will help feed two families, but any amount is appreciated. Please use this link to submit your donation: https://donorbox.org/cpnholidaybaskets

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As always on #GivingTuesday, we’re encouraging our readers to show their appreciation for West Philly-based non-profit organizations. Throughout the day, we’ll be posting messages from West Philly non-profits in this post and on our social media. Please consider supporting a local cause today with your donation or volunteering. Also, please visit our Civic Life/Neighborhood Resources page where you can find information on many other West Philly non-profits.

Kicks for Kids: Giving Tuesday with HopePHL

Giving Tuesday, which falls on Tuesday, Dec. 2 this year, is a global day of generosity where everyone can give back to their communities through donations, acts of kindness, or spreading awareness. In 2024, more than 50,000 children and youth in Pennsylvania experienced homelessness, with over 10,000 of them right here in Philadelphia. These are not just numbers; they are children whose futures are impacted by housing instability and trauma. HopePHL believes that every child deserves a safe place to call home, and is on a mission to turn these statistics around. Details for participating in Kicks for Kids with HopePHL can be found here.

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