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  • 25 Oct 2021 3:10 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    The City of Philadelphia has a bold goal of becoming a Zero Waste City by 2035, aiming for 90% of the city’s waste to be diverted away from the landfill and commercial incinerators.

    Some of the most difficult items to keep out of the landfill are the waste from single-use items or products that are packaged in single-use containers. Food and beverages are common culprits of this take-and-throw habit, from paper coffee cups to polystyrene to-go food boxes – but they don’t have to be! The Philadelphia Health Department has issued new guidance explaining how restaurants and food businesses can safely incorporate reusable to-go containers into their takeout service.

    On August 25th, the Office of Sustainability and Circular Philadelphia co-hosted a webinar describing the new rule change that allows food businesses to lend and take back reusable containers. Local businesses ECHO Systems and Tiffin Indian Cuisine shared their expertise at the event, as well.

    “By changing our own mindset about moving from disposable to reusable and creating a platform that makes it easy for our customers to participate, the impact will be far-reaching and long-lasting,” explained Munish Narula of Tiffin Indian Cuisine on the impact of the PDPH code change. “We applaud the removal of such unnecessary restrictions on use of the containers which only created a barrier for other restaurants and businesses to do the same. This win also encourages us to develop a broader range of sustainable practices in our own business and help others to do the same.”

    Reusable containers can be made of a variety of durable materials including hard plastic, metal, bamboo, or glass. On average, one $5 takeout container can be used over 1000 times, whereas a business might spend $250 on only 875 single-use containers. While many single-use containers display recycling symbols, still 14.5 million tons of plastic packaging was produced in the U.S. in 2020 – and only 14% was actually recycled, according to the EPA.

    The webinar covered the details of acceptable container types, washing and distribution guidelines, and the benefits of offering reusable containers to customers. Here are some key takeaways for restaurant and food business owners:

    • Beginning immediately, all existing food establishments in Philadelphia will be allowed to start offering reusable containers without applying for a variance and incurring fees, and new businesses will be required to check off that they are using reusable containers on their Food Establishment Plan Review.
    • All food establishments will be required to follow specific guidelines on washing, drying, and storage of the reusable containers. The complete guidelines were compiled by Circular Philadelphia and ECHO Systems for the Health Department.

    The Office of Sustainability has updated the Zero Waste Guide for Foodservice Establishments in Philadelphia to reflect the most recent Health Department regulations about reusable containers. The Guide now also includes tools and resources to help business owners learn more and start using these containers as part of their regular takeout or to-go food service. The Zero Waste Guide for Foodservice Establishments was created by Elizabeth Main of the Fels Institute of Government in 2019.

     Download the Zero Waste Guide for Foodservice Establishments

  • 25 Oct 2021 2:57 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    We want to ensure everyone is prepared and ready for Election Day on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. Below are some key steps to take to get ready to vote!

    Get more information below!

    November 2nd Election Guide

  • 25 Oct 2021 2:32 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    October is National Disability Awareness Month and the theme for this year—through the US Department of Labor—is inclusion. We at the Mayor’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are making an intentional effort to elevate important issues through personal connections. .

    Last month, Amy Nieves, Executive Director of the Office for People with Disabilities,  wrote a post about highlighting her personal story in recognition of  National Recovery Month. These stories represent ways we can use personal experience to showcase our advocacy, as we work towards building an inclusive, equitable, and diverse Philadelphia.

    If you or someone you know is struggling with navigating inclusion as a person with a disability, we encourage you to explore resources through the City’s  Office of People with Disabilities.


    Learn more below.

    National Disability Awareness Month


  • 21 Oct 2021 4:26 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    Headquartered right in our neighborhood- at Peirce College—Beyond Literacy (BeLit) is gearing up to compete in this year’s Philanthropitch Philadelphia.

    BeLit’s mission is to expand opportunities and improve lives by unleashing the power of literacy through free, high-quality education. They help adult students get their GED (high school equivalency); they help immigrants learn English as a Second Language. They place adult learners in Community College level learning environments.   All programs are through grants, volunteers, supporters and sponsors. Want to help them win the most prestigious Philanthropy prize in Philadelphia?  

    Philanthropitch Philadelphia is like Shark Tank for nonprofits except that YOU unlock the majority of the dollars to support BeLit. 

    BeLit is one of five nonprofit finalists to pitch an innovative new program to a panel of esteemed judges on October 28.  To support BeLit: 

    #1) VIEW & VOTE: It’s the best and most impactful $25 you’ve ever spent! 

    Each vote costs $25 and 100% goes directly to BeLit.  

    Watch the online pitch and vote during the public voting period: 10/20-10/26. 

    Here’s the link: https://www.philanthropitch.org/philadelphia 

  • 18 Oct 2021 3:33 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    Over the past decade, local tax reforms have made Philadelphia a better place to do business. What other changes to the tax code could lead to economic growth across the city? Could tax reform create a more inclusive and equitable COVID-19 recovery?

    The new Tax Reform Working Group believes that every Philadelphia neighborhood should prosper. They want to hear what you think about taxes in the city.

    Find out how you can participate below.

    Tax Reform Working Group


  • 14 Oct 2021 5:21 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    Philadelphia became the first city in the country to pass a driver equality bill. Police officers will soon be prohibited from pulling over drivers for low-level offenses like broken tail lights.

    Philadelphia Passes Bill Prohibiting Police From Pulling Drivers Over For Certain Low-Level Offenses (msn.com)

  • 12 Oct 2021 2:54 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    As part of our ongoing efforts to improve the neighborhood, the CCRA has enlisted Architect Tim Kerner in providing input/guidance in the form of good architectural standards and guidelines to the Office of Councilmember Allen Domb, who sponsored the bill to make Streeteries permanent.

    While CCRA is in favor of helping our restaurants and increasing the availability of outdoor eating, Kerner notes that the legislation proposes an extended donation of public space for the purposes of private profit and that we should not be doing so to the detriment of the urban environment.  Among his concerns are the specifics of the Streetery bill itself and outdoor dining guidelines in general.

    CCRA seeks a balance of good design, managing congestion, and preserving a non-intrusive ambient atmosphere while accommodating Streeteries. We appreciate the input of our residents while we work to strike the right balance.

    The City has published a document detailing guidelines for outdoor dining.  That document is available here.


Center City Quarterly

CCRA publishes the Center City Quarterly to provide information on Center City people and events from the point of local residents.  You'll be guaranteed to learn something interesting about your neighborhood in every issue!

Archived issues of the Quarterly are provided in Adobe Acrobat format. If you do not have the free Adobe Acrobat reader, you can download it directly from Adobe.

Advertisers:  To advertise in the Center City Quarterly, download our AdvertiserForm and email the completed form to centercity@centercityresidents.org or return to us by mail with your payment.  Upon receipt of your completed form, a member of the Newsletter Committee will contact you regarding any specific requirements.

2020 Issues

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CCRA Photo Gallery

Center City has a large number of talented amateur and professional photographers. Share your images of local events and sites.

We reserved the right to scrub any images we consider offensive. All copyrights are reserved to the contributor, who grants CCRA the rights to display images uploaded in this web site. No commercial information, please!



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1900 Market St, Fl 8, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 215.546.6719 | Email
: centercity@centercityresidents.org

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