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 test trolley exiting the tunnel near 40th and Woodland on Sunday, Jan. 4.

UPDATE (1/10/2026): SEPTA’s Trolley Tunnel (“T Trolley Tunnel”), which has been closed since mid-November, is set to reopen on Monday, Jan. 12 for regular daytime service, according to SEPTA. The tunnel will still be closed indefinitely from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night to accommodate additional inspections and maintenance. All trolleys will be diverted to 40th and Market during these hours. The tunnel will also be closed for additional repairs during the following periods:

• From 10 p.m. on Jan. 23 to 5 a.m. on Jan. 26
• From 10 p.m. on Jan. 30 to 5 a.m. on Feb. 2
• From 5 a.m. on Feb. 15 to 10 p.m. on Feb. 22

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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 Spruce Hill community lost a champion of civic engagement recently with the death of Barry Grossbach, a longtime resident and community advocate, who passed away December 18 at the age of 86.

Barry lived in the neighborhood for over 50 years and was actively involved in the community for decades. He participated in and supported several local organizations, including the Spruce Hill Community Association, where he was a board member and served as the zoning committee chair for many years. He was also a founding board member of the University City District (UCD) and co-founder of the Friends of Clark Park.

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SEPTA workers and trolleys participating in test runs seen near the Trolley Tunnel at 40th and Woodland on Saturday, Dec. 13. (Photo West Philly Local)

UPDATE (1/1/2026): SEPTA’s Trolley Tunnel will remain closed through early January until the necessary repairs are complete and test trolley runs are successful, according to a Dec. 31 announcement by SEPTA. The repairs in the tunnel are expected to be completed by the end of this week, after which SEPTA will begin running test trolleys. A target re-opening date for the tunnel has not been announced yet, but is expected to be announced shortly, according to SEPTA.

12/13/2025: SEPTA’s Trolley Tunnel closure is expected to continue until the end of December, as more testing is needed before the tunnel can reopen for regular service, according to the latest announcement by SEPTA.

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