What is Environmental Justice?
Environmental justice began as a grassroots movement led by BIPOC communities and advocates for economic and racial justice, as well as environmental stewardship in decision making, fair treatment and involvement of all people regardless of race, income, and national origin.
Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability envisions “an environmentally just city where race, socioeconomic status, and ZIP code no longer predict residents’ health or exposure to hazards.”
Here you can find various resources that are available to Philadelphia residents to address environmental issues in your home and community.
Resources for Residents:
Air Quality:
| Check air quality |
| Receive air quality notifications |
| Alert Air Management Services to issues such as idling, dust, or unusual odor. Call 215-685-7580 (business hours) or 215-686-4516 (all other times) |
Water Quality:
| Questions about lead in your water: 215-685-6300 |
| See what material your water service line is made of |
| Homeowner’s Emergency Loan Program (HELP) |
Healthy Homes:
| Lead and Healthy Homes program |
| Housing Benefits Tool |
| Built to Last programs |
| Philadelphia Housing Development Program Adaptive Modifications Program, which aids low-income individuals with permanent physical disabilities live more independently in their homes |
| PHDC’s Basic Systems Repair Program provides free repairs to correct electrical, plumbing, heating, limited structural and carpentry, as well as roofing emergencies |
Flooding & Storms:
| ReadyPhiladelphia: the city’s free emergency text and email alert system |
| Basement Protection Program: Philadelphia Water Department’s program to help protect your basement from flooding |
| Philadelphia Water Department’s Raincheck Program: Residential stormwater management tools |
| Office of Emergency Management’s flood preparedness information |
| Greenworks Resilient Community Worksheet: planning for how to respond to a storm or other emergency management |
Extreme Temperatures:
| For extreme heat days, find your local cooling center |
| Community Heat Relief Toolkit: ways to prepare your community for hotter summers |
| Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Assistance to help pay your home heating bill |
| Find out if you qualify for assistance with your electricity bill: Call PECO CARES at 1-800-774-7040 |
| Visit a Neighborhood Energy Center for help paying energy bills, find a list of centers here |
Waste, Litter, Illegal Dumping:
| Report illegal dumping and unlicensed construction by calling 3-1-1 or visiting Philly311. |
| Philadelphia’s Vacant Lot Program, which inspects and cleans vacant lots that need maintenance |
| Organize and elect a block captain, who work to make their block safe and beautiful |
| Find a sanitation convenience center to drop off trash or recycling (oversized trash, yard waste, recycling, etc.) |
| Bulk Collection Program: schedule a trash pickup appointment for bulky household items |
Green Space:
| Learn how to garden safely in Philadelphia’s urban soil |
| Request a free yard or street tree through TreePhilly |
Zoning & Development:
| Connect with your Registered Community Organization (RCO) |
| To comment on any appeals decision, attend a Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing |
| To learn more about land use decision-making, visit Philadelphia’s Citizens Planning Institute |
We hope you celebrate Earth Month by taking action and advance our collective goal of ensuring all neighborhoods in Philly are just, thriving, and green. All information from this blog was originally posted here: https://www.phila.gov/2025-02-25-spotlight-environmental-justice-month-and-resources-for-residents/?mc_cid=67e6322252&mc_eid=acee551f59