Plymouth Township Council Seeks Public Support for Sustainability

In an effort to conserve natural resources, expand on recycling and reuse efforts and reduce pollution, the Plymouth Township Council adopted a sustainability pledge.

The township’s environmental advisory board suggested that the governing body consider the pledge and encourage residents to participate. Doing so is completely voluntary.

The sustainability pledge urges residents to adopt at least four eco-friendly practices at home and/or in the garden.

Living more sustainably means residents will reduce their energy use and the carbon footprint caused by their home’s heating system. Here are some at-home actions to take to help conserve energy.

• Install a programmable thermostat and learn how to program it.
• Install CFL or LED lights to replace interior and exterior incandescent light bulbs.
• Attend a workshop to learn how you can increase the energy efficiency of your home from a certified Building Performance Institute building inspector.
• Consider switching to a renewable electricity generation provider using PAPowerSwitch.
• Schedule an energy assessment with PECO or another home heating company to identify energy-saving opportunities.

Residents who vow to improve the sustainability of their garden or a township park will help reduce storm water run-off and conserve water. Here are some actions to take in your garden or other open space.

• Plant a tree or bush that is native to this region.
• Install and maintain a rain barrel for yard watering
• Plant an organic vegetable garden on your property or join a community garden or community supported agriculture association.

Recycling helps to save the township money on trash incineration/disposal, as well as reduce air pollution. Plymouth Township offers a drop off to recycle electronic devices and offers leaf collection and branch pickup. There ae many items that can be recycled, including:

• Cardboard, paper, glass, cans and plastics #1-#7 can be placed in a single-stream recycling bin.
• Outdated electronic devices can be recycled at Plymouth Township’s Public Works shed.
• Install and maintain a compost bin to convert vegetable waste into garden soil.
• Recycle plastic grocery bags at Giant and other participating locations.