Keep It Real: Avoid Artificial Trees

If you are concerned about the environmental impact of Christmas trees, read on! A real tree spends around eight years growing in the field before it is harvested. So instead of being manufactured and shipped from China like an
artificial tree, a real tree converts CO2 into Oxygen, provides a habitat for wildlife, and keeps large tracts of space green across North America.

Unlike artificial alternatives, when you are done with a real tree, it is 100% recyclable and 100% biodegradable. When you choose a real tree, you put money back into the local economy. It supports your retailer and their
employees, as well as the growers who provide the trees.

After the holidays, recycle your tree at one of the Streets Department’s tree recycling drop-off locations throughout Philly or any one of the City’s Sanitation Convenience Centers. Local compost services like Bennett Compost and Circle Compost will also pick up and compost your tree for a fee. Remember to remove all lights and decorations before you recycle your tree!

Use LED lights to decorate your tree

Use LED lights to decorate your tree. They use at least 75 percent less energy than traditional lights and last 25 times longer. Avoid plastic decorations. Instead, visit Ten Thousand Villages, 1315 Walnut, for an excellent selection of Fair Trade Christmas tree ornaments. West Elm, 1330 Chestnut, also stocks Fair Trade products including tree ornaments, Christmas stockings, tree skirts, and more. We love the hand-crafted, felt Silk Road tree ornaments at Moon & Arrow, 742 S. 4^th Street. Another place to find recycled tree decorations is at a thrift shop. If you have holiday lights to dispose of, take them to Mom’s Organic Market for recycling. They will accept holiday lights from November 26th through January 31st.

Choose Eco-Friendly Wrapping Paper

Forego commercial wrapping paper, which sacrifices our already endangered woodlands. This year, consider using newspapers or magazines instead. For fashionistas, get creative and wrap gifts in the colorful New York Times Style Section. For investors, use the Wall Street Journal Stock Report. Or pick up a roll of recycled brown paper at a local shop and add a decorative touch with snippets of fresh ferns, holly berries, or candy canes.

Shop Local

Supporting local businesses is good for the environment in many ways. It reduces the transportation costs associated with your goods, and your carbon footprint while also helping the local economy and strengthening our communities. Here are a few more places to shop locally this holiday season:

Good Buy Supply on East Passyunk – Photo: goodbuysupply.co

East Passyunk’s Good Buy Supply is dedicated to plastic-free home, kitchen, and bath alternatives. Their offerings include all-natural bath bombs, beeswax food wraps, and a bulk bar of pretty refillable soaps. For foodies, consider a Minimalist Utensil Set or the No-Waste Vegetarian Cookbook.

United By Blue, 205 Race St, cleans the ocean of trash for every item purchased. Thoughtful gifts are available at every price point, including recycled cashmere sweaters, backpacks, and pom-beanies.

Moon & Arrow offers a selection of socially responsible, handmade, and vintage clothing, jewelry, accessories, and home furnishings.

Moon and Arrow Ornaments. Image: Moon & Arrow

Nice Things Hand Made, LLC, 1731 E. Passyunk, is a creative boutique and gallery with ceramics, jewelry, clothing, and art by indie artists.

Downerss 2026 Frankford Ave is a women-owned and operated boutique in Fishtown, specializing in young contemporary clothing, vintage, vegan leather, handmade jewelry, and all-natural skincare products.

For more businesses to support, check out our Small Business Saturday guide highlighting local small businesses owned by Solo tenants.

However way you decide to celebrate this special season, Solo Real Estate wishes you a happy, healthy, sustainable New Year!

If you rinse every glass jar and bottle before placing it in your recycling bin, we have some bad news. Only 33% of that glass is actually recycled. The rest ends up in landfills. Now for the good news. Sister companies, Remark Glass and Bottle Underground are determined to close the loop and make Philly a national leader in recycled glass.

Repurposing

Founded in 2016 by three talented glass artists, Remark Glass doesn’t just recycle glass, they repurpose it. In their studio in the Bok Building in South Philly, co-founders Danielle Ruttenberg, Rebecca Davies, and Mark Ellis, turn used bottles into stunning light fixtures, barware, dinnerware, and decorative bowls. “One of our top selling items is Keepsake Glass, commemorative bottles from a graduation, wedding, or anniversary that we turn into a serving bowl or a light fixture,” said Danielle who graduated from Tyler School of Art and previously operated a glass art business in Port Richmond. “We also work in our showroom with designers on light fixtures for homes and restaurants. Forin Café which is scheduled to open in June in Fishtown is buying recycled glassware from us,” she said. Their one-of-a-kind housewares also make a great housewarming gift for a new homeowner. Shop the available selection on their online shop or consider a custom project.

Recycling

As the first business in Philadelphia to be certified zero waste, Remark came up with a unique concept to bypass the shortcomings of the City’s glass recycling system. They created Bottle Underground, the non-profit arm of Remark, which offers an environmentally sustainable alternative to dumping used glass in landfills. “Bottle Underground offers pick-up service,” said Danielle. “We supply you with a bin to collect your glass. We just ask that you make sure all your glass is rinsed and there is no residue. You can leave the labels on. We take care of that. Once a month we will pick up your glass and return your empty bin.” There is a charge for the monthly pick-up service. “We are trying to make this as affordable as possible on a sliding scale for restaurants and corporations,” said Danielle. “We also welcome one-time drop-offs of clean, used, unbroken glass
bottles at our headquarters in the Bok Building. Just call in advance to schedule your delivery,” said Danielle.
“We accept any clean glass container and anything that has a reusable lid. We love Champagne bottles because the glass is thicker. We also look for blue glass and specialty colors,” she said.

A piece of glass being shaped into a new item. Image courtesy of Remark Glass.

Turning bottles into art

“Prepared pieces are placed in our kiln and heated to 1050 degrees Fahrenheit – this is considered warm in glass – the temperature is stable and the glass is still in its solid state. From there, our team picks up the pieces, one at a time, on the end of a steel rod. The glass is rotated and heated in a 2000-degree reheating chamber, then tools are used at the bench to transform the material to its new shape,” explained Danielle. “Once the final shape is achieved, our team knocks the piece off the rod, stamps it with our logo, and carefully places it back into the kiln.” Co-founder Mark Ellis studied glass at the Tyler School of Art and worked in high-end glass and metal fabrication for over a decade. At Remark, he specializes in glass blowing and metal fabrication. Rebecca Davies, Mark’s wife, received an MFA at the University of the Arts, and then worked at a blown glass lighting company. “We all pitch in,” said Danielle. “We have eight employees and everyone does their part to achieve our mutual goal. To build a better future and support the overall well-being of their community”. Remark Glass also strives to support the local economy by working with local businesses that share the same values.

Danielle Ruttenberg, Mark Ellis, and Rebecca Davies pose for a picture with glass bottles. Image courtesy of Remark Glass.

So, as Summer officially opens with coolers filled with beer and wine, think twice before tossing those bottles and consider dropping them off to Bottle Underground for reuse by Remark Glass instead. Reducing waste by composting food scraps, recycling what you can, and repurposing glass containers can help Philly achieve its zero-waste goal.

Interested. in learning other ways you can help reduce your environmental footprint? Check out our article on Four Ways to Minimize your Waste Footprint in Philadelphia or our list on 5 Things Philly Renters can do for the Environment.

Tag: Recycling

Holiday Sustainability Tips