Environmental Advisory Board

Duties

• Identify environmental problems and recommend plans and programs to the appropriate Township board and/or commission for the promotion and conservation of the natural resources and for the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment within the Township's limits.
• Promote community environmental awareness and programs.
• Undertake such environmental tasks as requested by the Board of Supervisors.
  

Single Use Plastic Bag Ordinance

• Using reusable bags reduces the resources needed to create single-use plastic bags and prevents litter, pollution, and waste.
• On November 3, 2022, the Environmental Advisory Board gave a presentation to the Board of Supervisors regarding the negative impact of single use plastic bags. Seeing the impact, the Board of Supervisors assisted the Environmental Advisory Board with drafting an ordinance to restrict the distribution of single use plastic bags in the Township. The ordinance was enacted and ordained on July 13^th, 2023 and will go into effect October 11, 2023. 
• This means that beginning October 11, 2023, Whitemarsh businesses will be prohibited from providing single use plastic bags at checkout. Consumers are encouraged to bring reusable bags, or they may purchase reusable carryout or paper bags with at least 40% post-consumer recycled content at a nominal charge. Disposable straws and utensils will be provided upon request.  
• Please find more information by clicking here

Energy Transition Plan

At their rescheduled May 2020 meeting, the EAB voted unanimously to recommend an Energy Transition Plan (ETP) to the Board of Supervisors (BoS).  The ETP will serve as a foundation for the Township to achieve the goals set in the Ready for 100 (RF100) Resolution.

 The ETP’s goals span seven areas: Energy efficiency, ordinances and guidelines, funding, renewable energy supply, transportation (to include all fossil fuel burning equipment), community engagement, and tracking progress. These goals are broken down into more specific projects and strategies in the ETP.  The first benchmark of this ETP is the Energy Audit, a survey of Township-owned buildings to determine our own carbon footprint.

Upon completion, the Energy Audit will provide the Township with a snapshot of our current energy use, and suggestions for ways we can reduce our energy consumption and costs.  Those suggestions will be shared with the EAB for discussion at a regular EAB meeting, so they can advise the BoS on prioritization of those suggestions.

The Township last worked with Practical Energy Solutions in 2013 to create a Township Energy Audit assessing the Township Administration Building and the Police Department. View the 2013 Energy Audit (PDF) here.

The Energy Transition Plan was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors at their July 2020 meeting.

Pollinator Gardens and Gardening for Wildlife
Insects likes bees, wasps, moths, and butterflies inadvertently transfer pollen in their travels, allowing for the fertilization and growth of new plant life.  Pollinators are essential to our ecosystem.  You can help by planting some of the species suggested by the Pennsylvania State University Extension Program HERE.

Incandescent Light Bulb

The incandescent light bulb has virtually been unchanged since Thomas Edison invented it. Although revolutionary for the time, the amount of energy used to provide light is very high. In fact most of the energy is given off as heat with only a small amount being converted to light. Newer compact florescent (CFL) bulbs use far less energy to produce the same amount of light (lumens).

The Township accepts CFLs (PDF) along with standard tubular florescent bulbs for recycling. They should not be thrown in the trash because they contain mercury; a human toxicant. Check the Township Trash and Recycling page for more information on how to properly dispose CFL bulbs.

Responsible Home Gardening

• Native versus non-native plants
  • Natural Landscaping (PDF)
  • Invasive Plant Catalog (PDF)

Composting at Home:

• https://extension.psu.edu/home-composting-a-guide-for-home-gardeners 
• https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home 
• https://www.npr.org/2020/04/07/828918397/how-to-compost-at-home

Ready for 100 Resolution

Click HERE to view the full resolution.