ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE

pigeon_7522_lgWhether you’re passionate about planting trees, gardening, becoming a block captain or doing something about litter in our neighborhood…

There are a variety of ways to get involved and make a positive impact on the quality of life in our community. Take a look below to see what projects we’ve recently undertaken and read on to find out more about the many free resources that are available to Philadelphia residents who are interested in improving their neighborhoods.

Environmental Committee Chair: Patti Tahan

Want to keep up to date on the Environmental Committee’s activity to improve our neighborhood? Keep an eye on the LoMo calendar and fill out the form below to join the email list:

u18837968KEEPIN’ IT CLEAN

The days when the City used to employ street-sweepers are long gone, which means that we have to take the litter situation in our neighborhood into our own hands. LoMo encourages all residents to do their part by helping to keep their blocks tidy on a regular basis.  Be a Trash Night Hero! When you’re putting out your household trash on either Tuesday or Wednesday night, do a quick scan of your block for items that can be quickly tossed into a recycling bin or included in one of the bags you’ve brought to the curb. Every little bit helps!

If you are interested in organizing a cleanup on your block, we’d be happy to help with the supplies! Use the form at the top of this page to get in touch. 

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THE NEIGHBORWOODS
TO DATE, TOTAL NUMBER OF TREES INTRODUCED TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BY LOMO VOLUNTEERS: 250!

Apply for a free tree! Click here to submit your request through TreePhilly.org.

Check out photos from some of our past tree plantings on Flickr!

Tree-lined streets make communities look great, and they also clean the air, provide shade to cool buildings and paved areas, increase property values and help control stormwater. LoMo has teamed up with the treephilly.org program — a citywide initiative to restore tree cover throughout Philly — to bring more trees to our neck of the woods. We’re making great progress and the LoMo Tree Tenders, a group of trained volunteer tree advocates, are committed to helping ensure that all trees in our neighborhood grow to be happy and healthy. If you have a tree-related question, want to apply for a free tree for your property, or are interested in becoming a member of our LoMo Tree Tender group, use the form at the top of this page to get in touch.

Useful tree-related links:

GARDENS

Volunteer to help care for one of our neighborhood gardens! Send us a note using the form at the top of this page. 

To take part in our Community Composting you can:

  1. Make and annual $25 donation or
  2. Become a Lomo member with annual $15 auto-renewal fee
  3. email lomophilly@gmail.com once you have submitted payment and we will email you with further details.

Check out photos of our neighborhood gardening projects on Flickr!

Interested in working on your green thumb? Enroll in the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s FREE training program, Garden Tenders!Call 215-988-8844 or register using this online form

Rain Check logo

Rain Check is a Philadelphia Water Department program that helps residents manage stormwater at their homes. Participants can get a free rain barrel to reduce stormwater flows to our sewer system and creeks.  This storage of rain water serves dual purposes. First, the stored water can be used in place of tap water for gardening, washing down patio furniture, lawn watering, etc.  Second, the rain barrels serve an environmental purpose: by storing the rain water, there is a decreased impact of stormwater runoff to streams, which helps to protect the environmental and minimizes sewer back ups. To qualify for a rain barrel, you must attend a Rain Check workshop. These workshops are free and are happening all the time – check out the Rain Check site for specific dates and times.

For a reduced price, Rain Check can also provide downspout planters, porous pavers, and rain gardens. Details can also be found at the Rain Check site.

images3BLOCK CAPTAINS

Block captains play an important role in our neighborhood by bringing neighbors together to make their blocks cleaner, safer places. Block captains help organize clean-ups, register for block parties, welcome new neighbors to the block, and also answer questions about a variety of neighborhood-related issues. The more block captains in our neighborhood, the cleaner and safer it will be as a whole! LoMo is encouraging all blocks in our boundaries to register their block captain with the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee (PMBC). Not sure whether or not your block already has a block captain? Call 215-685-3981 to find out. You should also check with your neighbors to find out whether or not an “unofficial” block captain already exists. You may want to work with this person and register yourselves as Co-Block Captains with PMBC. Once you’ve registered with PMBC, let us know so that we can add you to our updated list of neighborhood block captains. Contact us using the form at the top of this page.

REDUCE/REUSE/RECYCLE

Confused about when to set out your recyclables? As of January 2009, our neighborhood recycles EVERY WEEK! Recycling is the law in Philadelphia. If you don’t recycle, you risk being fined. Check out the official Philadelphia Recycling Office’s website for more information on the City’s recycling program, including what you can and can’t toss into your recycling bin.

  • To get a blue recycling bin for your home, email your request to lomophilly@gmail.com. 
  • Want to know what you CAN and CAN’T recycle? Click here or call 311.
  • Did you know that you can recycle used compact fluorescent light bulbs at the Ikea on Delaware Avenue? Recycling stations are located by the Exit doors on the ground level.
  • There are several stores that can recycle old batteries and other materials. Whole Foods on South St takes used batteries. Save Some Green, at 2005 Chestnut St, accepts old cell phones, batteries, light bulbs, and plastics (#3-7) not accepted by the city.
  • And did you know that you can recycle plastic grocery bags, dry cleaning bags, bread bags, and newspaper bags at several local stores, including Acme, ShopRite, RiteAid, Target?
  • You can even donate your car to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation through Wheels for Wishes.
  • Have a question about bulk (oversized) pick-up by the City? Click here for more info.
  • Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Days, which are sponsored by the City, happen regularly throughout the year. Click here to check out this year’s schedule and click here for more info about accepted items.
  • Cleaning house? Wouldn’t you rather see that old dresser or bag of baby clothes go to a new home than the landfill? You can drop off clean, usable items at the Goodwill store at Front & Shunk during business hours. You can also try posting items to the FREE section of craigslist. Also, check out the Philly Freecycle network, which is a “grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills.”
  • Interested in finding out more about city-wide and national recycling campaigns and issues? Find out what’s going on with our local RecycleNOW campaign and also visit the National Recycling Coalition’s website.

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“CIRCULAR NON-DELIVERY” DECALS

Tired of all of those menus and solicitation flyers that get stuffed in your railing? Request a “Circular Non-Delivery” decal to place on your front screen door (or anywhere else visible to hand deliverers) to make them go away! To request one for your home, pick yours up at the next LoMo general meeting or event, or ask for one using the form at the top of this page. If unsolicited material is left outside your home, you simply send the circular to the Department of Licenses and Inspections. A Code Violation Notice (a.k.a. a ticket) is then issued to the violator.