This week’s podcast takes up where last week’s podcast left off, continuing the workshop with the third panelist, Fred Dedrick, Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development, continuing the discussion of opportunities for growing green jobs through the stimulus programs. Dedrick’s presentation is followed by a question and answer session moderated by Leanne Krueger-Braneky, executive director, of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, with answers coming from all three panelists: Dedrick, Mark Alan Hughes who, at the time of the workshop, was director of sustainability for Philadelphia, and David C. Dickson, district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

You’ll then hear the nitty gritty about how the city of Philadelphia stands ready to help grow the green economy in a quick presentation by Kevin Dow, who at the time was Deputy Commerce Director, Office of Neighborhood and Business Services.

This podcast is the second in a three part series featuring Recovery Act 101, a free forum held on May 11 in Philadelphia, targeting small businesses, discussing the top things businesses need to do to compete for funding for green initiatives in the federal stimulus package.

Tune in for the third podcast next week.

If you aren't already a member of PennFuture, what are you waiting for? PennFuture was called the state's "leading environmental advocacy organization" by the Philadelphia Inquirer. So join the leader on our secure website, and sign up for our publications. And remember, you can make sure you hear our podcasts first subscribing to them through iTunes.

This  podcast features the first of an ongoing series featuring Recovery Act 101, a free forum held on May 11 in Philadelphia, targeting small businesses, discussing the top things businesses need to do to compete for funding for green initiatives in the federal stimulus package.

The all-day workshop featured in this podcast was chaired by Leanne Krueger-Braneky, executive director, of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia. After a quick welcome and introduction by Dr. Stephen Curtis, president of the Community College of Philadelphia (where the workshop was held), Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter outlines what the city is doing with money from the stimulus package, and the real opportunities that are available to Philadelphia’s businesses and public interest groups. This podcast ends with two presentations from the morning panel by Mark Alan Hughes who, at the time of the workshop, was director of sustainability for Philadelphia, and David C. Dickson, district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Stay tuned for more in this podcast series.

If you aren't already a member of PennFuture, what are you waiting for? PennFuture was called the state's "leading environmental advocacy organization" by the Philadelphia Inquirer. So join the leader on our secure website, and sign up for our publications. And remember, you can make sure you hear our podcasts first by going to iTunes and subscribing to them.

In this week’s podcast, PennFuture’s western Pennsylvania Outreach Coordinator Joylette Portlock takes you on an audio tour of eLoop LLC, an ethical electronics recycling firm in Plum Borough, just outside of Pittsburgh. You’ll hear Ned Eldridge, eLoop’s president and CEO; Penny Holden, vice president of sales; and Jimmi Burns, director of operations, describe the recycling process step-by-step. You’ll learn exactly how our electronic waste -- the fastest growing waste stream in the world – should be disposed of. Turns out our televisions, computers, cell phones, PDAs, printers, etc., are full of toxic chemicals that must be disposed of as hazardous waste, and precious metals and other valuable components that can be reused.

Unfortunately, there is no law in Pennsylvania banning all this electronic waste from our landfills. But that could change. Two e-recycling bills currently before the Pennsylvania General Assembly - HB 708 and SB 816. These bills will require manufacturers of electronics to take back their old products and arrange for them to be responsibly recycled. HB 708 has been approved by the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and should be ready for a vote by the full House soon. SB 816 is currently before the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

In late June, PennFuture, eLoopLLC, and the Pennsylvania Resources Council held a special electronics recycling event as part of the Black and Gold City Goes Green Campaign. With just a few days notice, more than 350 Pittsburghers brought their old electronics to Heinz Field and paid to recycle three truckloads — about 20 tons — of old televisions, computers and more. The effort kept between six and seven tons of lead out of landfills.

You can sign up to automatically receive PennFuture Podcasts by going to iTunes and subscribing. And you can make sure you are on the cutting edge of environmental activism by joining PennFuture at our secure website.

Last November, the citizens of Philadelphia voted overwhelmingly in favor of amending the City Charter to create a new Department of Parks and Recreation and a new Commission. One of the first jobs of the new department is to adopt standards and guidelines for running and expanding the city’s parks.

Striking the right balance between protecting Philly’s parks and citizens’ use of the parks is in the hands of Michael DiBerardinis, the new Commissioner. In this podcast, PennFuture’s Rachel Vassar interviews DiBerardinis as he prepared to speak to the July 2009 Urban Sustainability Forum. She also interviews two experts from other cities, Zari Santner, director of Portland (Oregon) Parks & Recreation and Lucie Springmeyer, Executive Director, Forest Park Forever in St. Louis, Missouri.

Are you a PennFuture member? There’s no time like the present to join. You’ll get first notice on cool programs like the Urban Sustainability Forum, movies, panels, workshops and parties. Donate today at our secure website.