10 Places to Bring Your Recyclables in Philadelphia

For decades, people have paid little attention to how much waste they actually create. Now that health and wellbeing of the environment is threatened by the overabundance of waste products, people are really getting on board with recycling and trying to make a positive difference in their communities. Many municipalities offer recycling services with the usual trash pick-up. Occasionally though, there are times or items that do not fit the schedule or the scope of the local service. At those times you need to find a place to take your recyclables. The list below provides you with several locations for your recycling needs in the Philadelphia area.

Northeast Sanitation Convenience Center – For some items that you cannot recycle curbside, you have the option of using a drop off center. The Northeast Sanitation Convenience Center is one such place. Styrofoam is not accepted in curbside bins, however, you can recycle it in a special pilot program. The Center located at State Road and Ashburner is accepting Styrofoam as part of a special foam recycling project recently unveiled by the city. Foam products include #6 plastics like egg cartons, foam coffee cups, packing peanuts, etc. You can also bring computer electronics and televisions here for recycling.
Northwest Drop-off Center – Located at Domino Lane and Umbria Street, this center is open weekdays and Saturday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. If you are in need of a recycling bin and plan on coming here to get one, call first to make sure they have one available. You don’t need a special bin for curbside pick-up, but you do need to make sure the bin you use is clearly marked “recycling.” This site also takes televisions and electronic recyclables.
Southwest Drop-Off Center – The Southwest center is near Passyunk Avenue at 3033 63rd Street. Their hours are 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call for availability of recycling bins.
Philadelphia Streets – If you have household hazardous waste to dispose of, you can take it to one of several drop-off sites during recycling events scheduled throughout the year. The Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Events take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the schedule of days and locations is available on the Philadelphia Streets website. For questions, you can call the Streets Department’s Customer Affairs Unit. That phone number is 215-686-5560.
Bikram Yoga Studio – If you have old cell phones to recycle, you can take them to this yoga studio which is located on the 1500 block of Sansom Street. Call first to find out what time is best for dropping off your phone. Their number is 215-977-9642
Radio Shack – For recycling rechargeable batteries and cellphones, call your local Radio Shack store to find out if they are participating in recycling efforts. Many of theses establishments around town will be happy to take your castoff rechargeable batteries and old cellphones.
IKEA – Many businesses are getting involved with recycling efforts because it just makes sense. Ikea has entered the recycling arena by offering to accept compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs. Go to the Returns Department, and you should see clearly marked containers. There is no charge for recycling and they will take CFLs that have been purchased elsewhere. For safety and to make sure that the bulbs do not break and release mercury, be sure to wrap them in paper or put them in plastic bags.
Nonprofit Technology Resource – There are times when recycling means that you are donating something you cannot use to someone who can use it. If you have computers that are still in working order but need to be recycled, you can take them to NTR where they will be refurbished and put to good use. This organization is located at 1524 Brandywine St., Philadelphia. Rebuilt computers are used by area youth.
Greendog Recycling, Inc. – If it is scrap metal you need to recycle, Greendog Recycling processes and recycles both ferrous and non-ferrous metals. This company was created out of a sense of duty to help respond to the need for a safe, fair and friendly recycling center for the community.
Revolution Recovery – This recycling company is dedicated to social responsibility by doing all they can to keep materials out of landfills. They began the company by providing eco-friendly service at an affordable price. They continue to do that and work to reuse and repurpose construction waste so that it does not pollute the environment. If you have construction waste that needs to be dealt with, call the people at Revolution recovery and let them help you dispose of it.