Philadelphia’s solid waste and recycling contracts are ending in June 2026. One of those contracts allows its trash to be burned at the Reworld (formerly Covanta) waste-to-energy facility in Chester.
Now, Philadelphia Councilmember Jamie Gauthier has introduced a bill, The Stop Trashing Our Air Act, that would ban the city from incinerating any of its waste, writes Samantha Wittchen for the Grid.
Critics claim Philadelphia prioritizes disposal over alternative waste management strategies.
Philadelphia recycles about 12 percent and sends 40 percent of its trash to be burned in Chester.
The city claimed that because burned trash was turned into energy in Chester, it counted toward its zero-waste strategy.
Advocates claim that by burning the trash, Philadelphia is contributing to environmental racism in Chester, causing health issues there.
Gauthier also wants to incorporate environmental justice targets and circular waste management requirements into proposals released to companies like Reworld that would be bidding on the City’s solid waste and recycling contracts.
“This is more than a financial decision,” said Zulene Mayfield of Chester Residents Concerned with Quality Living. “It’s a health and a moral decision that needs to be made.”
Read more about Philadelphia’s waste management impact on Chester in the Grid.
