Donating hard-to-recycle items in Philly just got easier

Driving the news: Sustainable economic development group Circular Philadelphia and creative reuse nonprofit The Resource Exchange unveiled the region's first sustainability search engine, resourcePhilly, on Thursday.

How it works: After surveying hundreds of residents about obstacles they face when attempting to donate hard-to-recycle items, the groups partnered with software company Urality to create a digital warehouse.

• The tool guides patrons to donation locations, "making reuse and recycling turnkey for busy people, Karyn Gerred, The Resource Exchange's executive director, said in a statement.
• It's like an online version of the exchange's Kensington thrift store, which accepts some donations and directs residents to other places to donate unwanted items via a corkboard map.

The bottom line: The tool's unveiling aligns with the Parker administration's mission of making the city greener and cleaner, Circular Philadelphia co-founder Samantha Wittchen says.

• "Until now, there has been no comprehensive online tool like this in Philly."