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Historic Bartram's Garden in Southwest Philadelphia has much going for it, but it is an endangered site: a private company is seeking to locate a construction and demolition waste-recycling facility near its grounds. The company, Philly-Wide Recycling Inc., has asked the city for a waiver; state law prohibits companies from operating trash facilities within 300 yards of public parks or playgrounds.
There already are four waste or recycling operations within a mile of Bartram's Garden. Adding another waste plant to the neighborhood would just increase the number of dump trucks hauling trash through the streets at all hours, nearly every day of the week. Our neighborhood already has more than its fair share of these plants.
Those of us involved with Bartram's Garden envision a future in which our 45-acre garden connects to the city's other historic, cultural and tourist offerings. More pollution, noise and traffic from a new waste plant definitely is not compatible with that vision. It is possible a company may have enough lobbyists and influence to succeed in winning a waiver. But once one waiver is granted, it would be politically difficult to deny others.
We ask the mayor, the Fairmount Park Commission and City Council to support community opposition to this plan for another waste facility in Southwest Philadelphia and refuse to grant a waiver.
To my knowledge, no city, municipality or other owner of a public park in Pennsylvania has ever granted one. It would be very disappointing if Philadelphia became the first. I am asking those who care about this issue to write the mayor and members of City Council.
Bill LeFevre (blefevre@bartramsgarden.org) is executive director of the non-profit John Bartram Association, which administers Historic Bartram's Garden.
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