Main Line Green Initiative

⚡ SESSION SPOTLIGHT ⚡

We are excited to announce our second breakout session speakers for the 5th Annual Delaware County Sustainability Conference THIS FRIDAY! For a session designed to spark ideas, celebrate local wins, and keep Delaware County's sustainability momentum strong, join Community Projects Lightning Rounds at 1:15-2:15pm or 2:30-3:30pm!

Please note: this session is only available for in-person conference attendees and will not be livestreamed due to capacity restraints. If you missed registration for this year's conference, tune in for the morning sessions at a livestream link coming soon!

Thank you to Deb Soutar & Karen Murphy from Penn State Extension Master Gardeners, Steve Jacobs from Concord Township Parks & Recreation, Sarah Newman & Carol Armstrong from Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards, Jay Baxter from Haverford EAC, and Woody Kotch from Transition Town Greater Media for what is sure to be an inspiring, action-oriented breakout session! Read more about the session speakers on our website at www.delcopa.gov/sustainability!

The Haverford Township Paper Shredding Event is just two weeks away!

The FREE event takes place on March 21 at the Township Building from 8:00-11:00 a.m. (or ends when the trucks are full).

Full details and guidelines can be viewed @ https://havtwp.org/News/Havtwp_Shredding_Events_Info_Page.html

Join us for a hands-on workshop with Penn State Extension Master Gardeners to learn about propagating houseplants! Participants will leave with potted plant cuttings 🪴

This is a FREE event, but registration is encouraged. Go to the link in our bio to register on Eventbrite

Deer-Resilient Keystone Plant Picks for Delaware County, PA

Looking for big ecological impact with less deer frustration? Start with Pennsylvania-native keystone plants — species that support the most birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects in our region.

🌳 Trees: Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor), White Oak (Quercus alba), American Holly (Ilex opaca)

🌿 Shrubs: Northern Bayberry (Morella pensylvanica), Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum), American Holly (Ilex opaca)

🌼 Perennials: White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata), Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve), Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)

These plants help rebuild habitat, support migrating monarchs and native bees, and create beautiful, resilient landscapes — often with less deer browsing once established.

Small planting choices can make a big difference for wildlife across Delaware County.

Note: Plant guidance informed by National Wildlife Federation regional keystone plant framework and Penn State Extension resources. Deer resistance varies by site and local browsing pressure.

Atlantic Sturgeon in the Delaware River are at risk of extinction.During the Spring to Summer months, they return from the ocean to the river and spawn, laying eggs on rocky areas with many nooks and crevices. However, potential human dredging operations in the Delaware River near Marcus Hook would disrupt this critical habitat, smothering eggs and fish, and weaken their chances of survival.
Please send a message to the Army Corps of Engineers and NOAA to ensure that no dredging occurs in the Delaware River during this critical breeding season for the Atlantic Sturgeon:
bit.ly/SturgeonWaters

Deadline is tomorrow.
The Constitution Pipeline, if constructed would start from Susquehanna County in PA and through Broome, Schoharie, Chenango, and Delaware Counties, in New York.

This project was previously blocked by New York in 2016, but developers have resubmitted the same application again, this time, attempting to circumvent New York state authority.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is currently accepting comments regarding the pipeline's application. Members of the public can also intervene on the project. Intervening on a project that has been filed for approval with FERC is important and valuable: it shows how strongly you are opposed to a project, it preserves your rights to bring a legal challenge should you wish to do so down the road, and it ensures you will be fully informed via email notifications about every step of the petition process.

Comment and/or intervene to protect our watershed from a destructive pipeline.
The deadline is January 29th, 5:00pm. Please do so now:
https://delawareriverkeeper.org/intervene-and-comment-on-constitution-pipelines-new-ferc-petition/

We at the Delaware County Office of Sustainability are thrilled to announce the launch of the Sustainable Communities Hub, a local government toolkit for municipalities, counties, environmental advisory councils (EACs) in Delaware County and beyond to create sustainable change! ♻🤝🌿

The Hub is modeled after the County Sustainability plan with the policy areas of Climate Resiliency, Natural Resources, Transportation, Energy & Efficiency, Zero Waste, and Health & Wellness. It is a great place to get started to recommend your town to make positive sustainable policy by using the recommended actions for each policy area.

Take a look: https://delaware-county-sustainable-communities-hub-dcpd.hub.arcgis.com/

The Hub can also be accessed at https://www.delcopa.gov/sustainability !

Trump’s EPA is taking itself out of the regulation game The agency has long tried to curb carbon emissions and protect human health. Critics say that under Trump it is giving up on both.

There is currently a bill in Philadelphia City Council that would end city contracts with incinerators for processing the city's waste.

Over a 1/3 of the waste burned at the ReWorld incinerator in Chester comes from Philadelphia. The logic is simple. Less burning means less pollution and better health outcomes for residents in Chester and Philadelphia, the latter of which is downwind from the incinerator anyway.

To get this bill passed, please contact your City Council Member now and urge them to vote YES on Bill #250768, the “Stop Trashing Our Air Act.”

Take Action Now.
https://delawareriverkeeper.org/support-the-philadelphia-bill-to-stop-chesters-polluting-trash-incineration/

Support Lower Merion Sustainability in assessing the impact of the Plastic Bag Ordinance! When you shop locally, complete the form below to share your experience, and whether you were given a plastic, paper, or reusable bag.

Report your findings at https://www.lowermerion.org/departments/sustainability/single-use-carry-out-plastic-bag-ordinance/plastic-bag-ordinance-impact-assessment