Zero Waste Philadelphia
City Guide

Many communities offer tools to help residents on their zero waste path. We’ve gathered innovative options we’ve come across in the city of Philadelphia. Do you have a resource to recommend? Contact us here.

Programs
Grocery Stores
Restaurants
Events
Compost Drop Off Sites

Zero Waste Programs

Ready to get involved with your community? Below are local options available to you.

Philadelphia Streets

The City of Philadelphia is partnering with local businesses and organizations to help the city and its residents achieve Zero Waste. The Program invites businesses to participate and commit to implementing Zero Waste practices.

Philabundance

Philabundance works to help reduce food waste within Philly by partnering with local food retailers, restaurants, etc. to take food that would have been wasted and donating it to members of the community that lack access to healthy and fresh local foods.

Zero Waste Philly

Zero Waste Philly provides an abundance of resources for Philadelphia businesses, residents, and schools that are working towards a zero waste lifestyle or business practices.

Zero Waste Grocery Stores

Sometimes it’s difficult to understand which grocery stores are thinking about zero waste from purchase to sale. We’ve rounded up our favorite zero waste grocery stores near you.

Essene Market

Here you are encouraged to bring your own containers and shop in the bulk food department to avoid packaging waste.

Mariposa

If you are looking for zero waste produce options, consider joining a local COOP like Mariposa in West Philly.

Zero Waste Restaurants

When dining out, it’s nice to have confidence the food you are eating is sustainably sourced and no single-use items are used. Explore some tasty zero waste dining options.

Fork Restaurant

Fork Restaurant is actively trying to reduce food waste within the restaurant through responsible sourcing of food ingredients and by educating staff on how to use more parts of the animal and produce for different dishes.

McGillins Tavern

McGillins Tavern is one of the oldest operating Taverns in Philly and also one of the more progressive restaurants focused on reducing waste through composting efforts and making more sustainable choices in the products they choose. The Tavern is working towards its Zero Waste Certification.

Zero Waste Events

Whether in-person or online, there are many zero waste events available. Check out what is coming up.

SustainPHL

SustainPHL is Philly’s Annual Sustainability Awards Ceremony and Celebration focused on spreading awareness of sustainability and highlighting efforts by individuals, groups, and businesses on their efforts to advance sustainability within Philly.

Green Philly

Check in with Green Philly for all sustainability focused events including those aimed at reducing waste across the city.

Compost Drop Off Sites

Did you know nearly 80 billion pounds of food ends up in landfill each year? Combat food waste by dropping off your organic waste at one of these compost options.

Mom’s Organic Market

Mom’s Organic Market is an organic food market that allows customers to drop off organic waste through their drop off compost program at their Bryn Mawr and Center City store locations.

Clean PHL

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center allows Philly residents to drop off organic materials such as grass clippings and leaves to compost. Philly is working on an urban composting pilot to allow residents to drop off food scraps in the future.