UWSR Eco Letter

January/February 2024

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To all our readers,

Thank you so much for subscribing to our UWSR Eco Letter. Although it's easy these days to feel overwhelmed by myriad challenges, we believe in the importance and cumulative impact of individual actions.

With gratitude, we wish you a new year of health, happiness, and peace.

-- Jeff and Scottie Twine

This free UWSR Eco Letter comes from Upper West Side Recycling six times a year. Here you'll find out about environmental events taking place during the next two or three months, along with a Commentary on an environmental topic relevant to Manhattan's Upper West Side. 

Please distribute this important information to appropriate people in your network and refer them to our website (www.uwsr.org).

Make sure to open and save a copy of our Hard-to-Recycle List for more information on how to recycle a wide variety of items, as well as our list of Environmental Organizations.

Please email us at info@uwsr.org with any information you may have about upcoming environmental events for our consideration.

(THE EVENTS SECTION FOLLOWS THE COMMENTARY)

COMMENTARY:

2024 Updates 

Recycling / Waste Reduction

-Budget cuts: Mayor Adams has cut $6.55 million from the Department of Sanitation’s outreach and communications contracts over the next two fiscal years. These unfortunate cuts occur at the same time that the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is expanding its curbside organics collections program (see the Organic Waste/Composting section below).

-Safe disposal of medications: Duane Reade and CVS Pharmacies have large containers for the safe disposal of medications (pills, capsules, salves, etc.). No sharps.

-Skip the Stuff Law (Local Law 17 of 2023), effective July 31, 2023. New York City food service establishments that provide take-out and delivery service must comply with the following restrictions:

• They may not provide utensils, condiment packets, napkins, or extra containers to take-out or delivery customers unless requested by the customer. 
• Online ordering and delivery apps must be set to a default of not providing these items and include an option for customers to request these items if the food service offers them.
• You can call 311 to report any businesses that are not in compliance. This law does not apply to self-serve stations inside a food service.

-Staples (Broadway and West 81st Street):

• provides free recycling for a wide variety of items including: computers and peripherals; printer cartridges; pens, pencils and markers; phone and tablet cases; SodaStream® CO2 cylinders; and different types of batteries;
• offers shredding at a per-pound charge; and
• accepts batteries (please separate ordinary single-use lithium and rechargeable batteries, which can be put in separate zip lock bags). 

Sources for Paper Shredding in Manhattan

• AARP Paper Shredding
• Paper shredding events on the Upper West Side are sponsored periodically by Assemblymembers Daniel O’Donnell (212) 866-3970), Linda Rosenthal (212) 873-6368), and Councilmember Gale Brewer (212)-873-0282); call them for more information.
• Paper shredding events on the Upper East Side
• Time Shred Services, (800) 989-8463, (718) 875-1229 
• UPS, 2218 Broadway (78th-79th Streets), (212) 712-2611; 2585 Broadway (97th-98th Streets), (212) 222-1202; they use Iron Mountain services and charge per pound.
• Check here for yearly paper shredding events in each borough.

DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off Sites and Events

-Saturdays and the last Friday of every month, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

• Bronx: Hunts Point at Farragut Street and the East River, next to the Fulton Fish Market; enter on Farragut Street, off Food Center Drive. 
• Manhattan: 74 Pike Slip, between Cherry Street and South Street under the Manhattan Bridge. 

-DSNY also holds Spring and Fall SAFE Disposal Events. Check back in Spring 2024 for a listing of the next one in Manhattan. (These events will also be listed in the UWSR Eco Letter.)

-In addition to electronics, goods accepted at both scheduled events and drop-off sites include solvents, automotive flammables, pharmaceuticals and sharps, and ionization-type smoke detectors. 

Legislation



• S237B. Bigger, Better Bottle Bill would add wine, liquor, distilled spirit coolers, and cider and wine products to the definition of "beverage"; would provide that the handling fee will be six cents for each beverage container accepted by a deposit initiator (store), and that the deposit and redemption amount would be ten cents (in committee). 

• S4246/A5322. Packaging Reduction Act would require companies selling, offering for sale, or distributing packaging materials and products to register with a packaging reduction organization to develop a packaging reduction and recycling plan (in committee). 

• Int 0274-2022 establishes a goal of zero divertible waste for New York City by 2030 (City Charter Rule adopted).

• Int 0275-2022 establishes a goal of zero waste by increasing waste diversion from landfill or incineration (City Charter Rule adopted).

• Int 0280-2022 mandates that the Department of Sanitation establish and operate at least two community recycling centers and one community recycling event in each community district and develop an outreach and education program for these (City Charter Rule adopted).

• Int 1003-2023 requires reusable eating utensils and eating containers at food service establishments and returnable food packaging at fast casual food establishments (in committee) 

Organic Waste / Composting

• Sadly, New York City has cancelled the contract for GrowNYC’s Compost Program, and we urge you to sign GrowNYC’s petition to stop future City budget cuts to Community Composting. Shortly after the cancellation, GrowNYC did receive a one-time gift from an anonymous donor, but that will allow their Compost Program to operate only through the end of their fiscal year on June 30, 2024. Both the program and GrowNYC's partners in the NYC Compost Project (Big Reuse, Earth Matter, Lower East Side Ecology) remain at risk. To put the City's cancelling of the Compost Program contract into context, community organizations across New York City compost 8.3 million pounds of food waste annually and distribute over 1.7 million pounds of locally made compost to parks, gardens, and residents. They also provide strong public outreach and education for DSNY’s curbside organics collection program.

• Smart Composting Bins are located throughout the city (including the Upper West Side) and are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The NYC Smart Compost app enables finding and unlocking compost drop-off at curbside bins; it also provides users with information about the composting program, gives details on how to use the curbside bins and what types of food/materials can be composted with this program, and enables reporting issues with the curbside bins. Click here for more information and bin locations. 

• For more composting resources, see It's Easy Being Green. 

Legislation

• Int 0244-2022 mandates universal residential composting by October 2024 for nearly every building in New York City (City Charter Rule adopted).

• Int 0281-2022 requires the establishment and operation of no less than 30 organic-waste drop-off sites citywide by April 1, 2024, with no less than three such sites in each borough (City Charter Rule adopted).

• Int 1100-2023 would require the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Sanitation to establish composting facilities for plant waste collection near the ten largest parks in each borough throughout the City no later than July 1, 2027 (in Committee).

Urban Greening

• Harnessing the Power of Tree Canopy in NYC: A Vital Part of the Urban Forest (with interactive NYC tree canopy map). Nature Conservancy

• How New York City’s Trees and Shrubs Help Clear Our Air, It's Easy Being Green Newsletter August 2023

Legislation

• Int 0102-2022 requires the Department of Environmental Protection to post an online map of green roofs (City Charter Rule adopted).

• Int 1065-2023 would create an Urban Forest Master Plan (City Charter Rule adopted).

• Int 1066-2023 requires the office of long-term planning and sustainability to consider the role of trees, tree canopy, and vegetation in its long-term sustainability planning (City Charter Rule adopted).

Climate Change / Energy

• Inside Climate News is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization for the public and for decision makers that provides essential reporting and analysis on climate change, energy and the environment . They serve as watchdogs of government, industry and advocacy groups and hold them accountable for their policies and actions. Click here to sign up for their free blogs.

• Climate Adaptation 101 (by the NRDC)

• Flooding and Climate Change: Everything You Need to Know (by the NRDC).

• PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done is the fifth in a series of climate action plans released by New York City.

• The Climate and Resilience Education Task Force, managed by the National Wildlife Federation and WE ACT for Environmental Justice, works to expand access to interdisciplinary P-12 climate education across New York State. They provide public events, policy recommendations, and teacher support.

• Three offshore wind and 22 land-based renewable energy projects were given the go-ahead by Governor Hochul in October 2023. These energy sources are expected to provide 6.4 gigawatts of clean energy, enough to power 2.6 million New York homes and deliver approximately 12% of New York’s electricity. This is a huge step towards New York's goal of sourcing 70% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. The Governor's office also expects these projects to create over eight thousand jobs in the state and bring in $20 billion in economic development and investments.

Legislation

• S4006c/A3006c enacts the All-Electric Building Act, which mandates that new buildings are constructed to support electric heating and appliances, which is critical because nearly 70% of the City’s greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings burning fossil fuels. This applies to most new buildings up to seven stories high beginning in 2026 and to buildings over seven stories high beginning in 2029 (signed by the Governor).

• S1535/A3351 would establish the climate change adaptation cost recovery program and the climate change adaptation fund (passed Senate, on Floor Calendar of Assembly).

• S2016/A4592A. NY Heat Act would remove the subsidy for “free” new connections to buildings within 100 feet of an existing gas pipeline (passed Senate, in Assembly Committee).

• S. 2935-B/A. 4866 Just Energy Transition Act requires a study of competitive options to facilitate the phase-out, replacement and redevelopment of New York State's oldest and most-polluting fossil fueled generation facilities and their sites by 2030 (passed Senate, in Assembly Committee).

• S3389 Stop Climate Polluters’ Handouts Act would end $330 million of the worst handouts to oil and gas companies (in committee).

• S6453C/A1466D. New York State Build Public Renewables Act would require the New York Power Authority to provide only renewable energy and power to customers (passed Senate, in Assembly Committee).

• S1535/A3351 would establish the climate change adaptation cost recovery program and the climate change adaptation fund (passed Senate, on Floor Calendar of Assembly).

• S5360B would establish the office of equity for energy and climate to support local and communally developed climate projects to support disadvantaged communities (in committee).

• S. 6327A/A. 7407 would establish new targets for offshore wind electricity generation (in committee).

• Int 0150-2022 would require that 40% of all parking spaces in existing NYC garages and open lots be capable of supporting electric vehicle charging stations by 2030 (in committee).



Miscellaneous

• Consider becoming an air monitor volunteer with WE ACT's new Community Air Monitoring Program. This program is meant to increase access to air quality monitoring and data for community members, especially those living in Northern Manhattan. Participants who complete the program will have the opportunity to work with up to two air sensors and assist with analysis of data collected from these sensors for a minimum one-year commitment. The data collected from this program will help them assess the impact of congestion pricing on air quality uptown as well as measure the relationship between outdoor and indoor air quality.

• Air Pollution: Everything You Need to Know (from the NRDC).

• Plastic-free laundry and cleaning products (from It's Easy Being Green). 

• Shops in the area that allow customers to use their own containers for hot or cold beverages (It's Easy Being Green October 2023 Newsletter)

Legislation

• S1856/A 7640 The Birds and Bees Protection Act would prohibit the sale of certain pesticides (such as neonicotinoids) or use of seeds coated with such pesticides (signed by Governor).

• S5512/A6115 The Lead Pipe Right to Know Act would require a comprehensive inventory of lead service lines and will make that data available (delivered to Governor). 

• S5648A/A3556A PFAS in Everyday Items would phase out these toxic chemicals in cookware, cleaning products, fabric treatments, rugs, ski wax, paint, and household textiles (in committee).

• Int 0533-2022 would require the NYC DEP to report on its progress toward decreasing the presence of sewage and stormwater contaminants in the City waterways and various strategies to achieve those goals (laid over in committee).

You can access an ARCHIVE OF PAST COMMENTARIES here.

This Archive is an excellent resource for research and review of

environmental issues that are part of our daily lives.

EVENTS

You can assume an event is online if no location is listed. For ongoing events, please check first with the sponsoring organization for their status.

Sometimes we're notified of events after we send you the current bi-monthly issue. Be sure to check here on our website to see any updates.

Electronic & Textile Recycling

(See also our Hard-to-Recycle List)

REMINDER: According to New York State recycling laws it is illegal to put any electronic waste into your trash. Residential buildings will be fined for violations of this law.

Free Electronics Recycling Events

Lower East Side Ecology; (212) 477-4022.  Hosts E-Waste recycling events during the year throughout Manhattan. Events occur as scheduled, rain or shine.  

Accepted (unless otherwise noted): Computers and peripherals (monitors, printers, faxes/scanners, keyboards, mice, wires, etc.); TVs; stereo and A/V equipment, VCRs, DVD players; cell and wall phones.

Not Accepted: Microwaves, small appliances, refrigerators, air conditioners, smoke or carbon monoxide detectors. If you're not sure about a given item, check with Lower East Side Ecology before you bring it; (212) 477-4022.

• Sunday, January 7, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (rain or shine), Union Square Park, North Plaza; cars unload along East 17th Street.
• Saturday, January 13, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (rain or shine), Church of the Holy Name of Jesus/St. Gregory the Great, Amsterdam Avenue between West 96th and 97th Streets.

Ongoing: Functioning cell phones and chargers can be donated to the Office of Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell, 245 West 104th Street. Info: (212) 866-3970

Free Textile Recycling Events

(See also our Hard-to-Recycle List)

• Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Recycle Clothing and Other Textiles at 991 Amsterdam (in front of the Columbus Amsterdam BID Office). Info: info@columbusamsterdambid.org; 212-666-9774
• Saturdays, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., recycle textiles, Morningside Park Down-to-Earth Farmers Market, 110th Street & Manhattan Avenue. Info: Down to Earth; (914) 923-4837.

Wearable Collections will pick up from your building (for more details see our Hard-to-Recycle List).

Accepted by Wearable Collections: Clean textiles, including clothing and shoes, handbags, blankets, sheets, curtains, towels, etc.

Not Accepted: Scraps, pillows, comforters, luggage or carpeting.

Collection of textiles at some greenmarket sites as been temporarily suspended. Check the Grow NYC website for current status.

Currently open:

• 77th/79th Street Greenmarket [79th & Columbus Avenue], 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Sundays
• Columbia University Greenmarket [Broadway between 115th-116th Streets], 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Thursdays and Sundays

Check the Grow NYC website for an up-to-date list of locations and hours for locations to recycle textiles. For information: Grow NYC, (212) 788-7964. Events occur as scheduled, rain or shine.

Also, United War Veterans Council, Salvation Army, and Goodwill will pick up from residential buildings. So will re-fashion NYC (new enrollments are on hold, but you may now submit an application). See the Textiles Section of our Hard-to-Recycle List for more specific information.

Other Recycling/Solid Waste 

(See also our Hard-to-Recycle List)

• CVS and Duane Reade Pharmacies: Safe disposal of unused medications; drop your unwanted, unused or expired medications in their medication disposal kiosk; no sharps.
• Tuesday, December 26, 2023 through Sunday, January 7, 2024, Drag your Christmas Tree to any Mulchfest location during park hours (remove all lights, ornaments, and netting); if you wait until “Chipping Weekend” on Saturday/Sunday, January 6/7, between 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., you’ll get a free bag of mulch in return at some locations. For locations and hours, see NYC Parks
• Friday, January 5, to Saturday, January 13, 2024, Christmas Tree and Wreath Collection by DSNY (remove lights, ornaments, stands, and plastic wrapping). Leave trees and wreaths at the curb; they will be chipped, mixed with leaves, and recycled into rich compost. Info: DSNY
• Tuesday, January 9, 2024, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Material Reuse Forum 5: Reuse in Climate Action Plans (online). Info: Northeast Recycling Counsel 
• April 2024, Paper Shredding Event. For date and location contact Danny O’Donnell’s office, odonnelld@nyassembly.gov, 212-866-3970
• Second Wednesday of each month (except July & August), 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., (location varies), Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board Meeting (online). Info: Manhattan SWAB
• Second Thursday of each month, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., 350NYC WasteNot Working Group Meeting (online). Info: 350NYC

Year-round Greenmarkets and scrap drop-off locations in Upper Manhattan that accept food waste include locations at: Tucker Square Greenmarket [66th Street and Columbus Avenue]; 79th Street Greenmarket [77th Street betw. Columbus Avenue and Central Park West]; 97th Street Greenmarket [West 97th & Amsterdam Avenue]; Columbia University Greenmarket [West 116th Street and Broadway]; St. Mary's Harlem Food Scrap Drop-off, 521 West 126th Street; 181st Street and Fort Washington Avenue; Inwood Greenmarket, Isham Street and Seaman Avenue (north corner). (See Grow NYC for status and hours or our Hard-to-Recycle List for more information and other locations).

Climate Change & Energy

• Tuesday, January 9, 2024, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Material Reuse Forum 5: Reuse in Climate Action Plans (online). Info: Northeast Recycling Council
• Wednesday, January 10, 2024, 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12: Knowing Your Geography- Data Mapping for Sustainable Development (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, lnz2104@columbia.edu, 212-854-0641
• Tuesday, January 16, 2024, 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Concerned but Confused: University Students' Knowledge and Perceptions of Climate Change, and How they Plan to Address it in their Future Personal and Professional Lives (online). Info: Teachers College, Columbia University 
• Wednesday, January 17, 2024, 12:00 p.m.-1:15 p.m., Artificial Intelligence for Climate Change Mitigation (online). Info: Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia SIPA, energypolicyevents@columbia.edu
• Thursdays, January 18, February 15, March 21, April 18, May 16 & June 20, 2024, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Monthly overview of IRI's Global Seasonal Climate Forecasts and ENSO Status and Forecast (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, (212) 854-3830
• Friday, January 26, 2024, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Global Summit on Climate Education (0nline). Info: Teachers College, Columbia University
• Tuesday, January 30, 2024, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Columbia Climate School Signature Speaker Series – Dr. Stephanie Pincetl: What Would Be a Just Energy Transition? (online or in-person at Columbia University, 601 West 125th Street). Info: oherrera@climate.columbia.edu, Columbia Climate School
• Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Embedding a Transformative Dimension in Teaching and Learning Climate Change (online). Info: Teachers College, Columbia University
• Thursday, February 8, 2024, 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., Music, the Climate Crisis, and the Haitian Drum, (online and in-person); Fayerweather Hall, Room 513, Columbia University, 1180 Amsterdam Avenue. Info: Columbia Center for Science and Society 
• Wednesday, February 14, 2024, 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12: Coral Reef Conservation: Challenges and Solutions (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, lnz2104@columbia.edu, 212-854-0641
• Tuesday, February 20-Thursday, February 22, 2024, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., NYC Public Schools Winter Climate Institute. Info: Teachers College, Columbia University
• Wednesday, March 13, 2024, 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12: Carbon Removal & Storage in a Just Transition (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, lnz2104@columbia.edu, 212-854-0641
• Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12: An Introduction to Green Spaces (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, lnz2104@columbia.edu, 212-854-0641
• Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12: Disasters and Climate Change in the Caribbean (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, lnz2104@columbia.edu, 212-854-0641
• Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12: Myths and Misinformation about Renewable Energy (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, lnz2104@columbia.edu, 212-854-0641
• Second Wednesday of each month, 7:00 p.m., 350 NYC Buildings, Energy & Transportation Working Group (via Zoom). Info: 350 NYC
• Fourth Wednesday of each month, 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., 350 NYC General Meeting, The Ethical Culture Society, 2 West 64th Street. Info: 350 NYC
• Fourth Sunday of each month, 1:30 p.m., Climate Change Circles, The Ethical Culture Society, 2 West 64th Street, Room 514. Info: Ethical Culture Society; (212) 874-5210

Urban Greening

• Friday, January 5, 2024, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Mulchfest: Marcus Garvey Park Street Tree Care, Marcus Garvey Park Dog Run (in Marcus Garvey Park), 120th Street & Madison Avenue. Info: NYC Parks
• Saturday, January 13, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Inwood Street Tree Care, Ellwood Street and Sherman Avenue. Info: NYC Parks
• Monday, January 15, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Harlem Street Tree Care: MLK Day of Service, Fred Samuel Playground Lenox Avenue, West 139 to West 140 Street (registration required). Info: NYC Parks 
• Saturday, January 20, 2024, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Winter Tree ID, Diamante Community Garden, 30 East 118th Street. Info: NYC Parks 
• Wednesday, January 24, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m., Virtual Workshop: Worm Bin Demo & Giveaway (hosted by GrowNYC Education). Info: GrowNYC Zero Waste Schools
• Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12: An Introduction to Green Spaces (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, lnz2104@columbia.edu, 212-854-0641
• First Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m., CB9 Landmarks Preservation & Parks Committee Meeting [via Zoom]. Info: CB9, (212) 864-6200
• Third Thursday of each month, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., New York City Community Garden Coalition Monthly Meeting, Neighborhood Preservation Center, 232 East 11th Street. Info: NYC Community Garden Coalition, (212) 228-2781

Environmental - Miscellaneous

• Friday, January 5, 2024, 12:00 a.m., Comment Deadline Brownfield Application: The Beacon – 413 East 120th Street. Info: NYS DEC 
• Friday, January 19, 2024, 6:30 p.m., Soggy City: Flooding in NYC, Hunter College, 68th Street and Lexington Avenue. Info: NYC H20 
• Tuesday, January 30, 2024, 4:00 p.m.-4:45 pm, Virtual Workshop: Defining Environmental Justice (hosted by GrowNYC Education). Info: GrowNYC Zero Waste Schools 
• Sunday, February 11, 2024, 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Bird Photography for All with the Feminist Bird Club, Seaman Avenue and Isham Street Entrance in Inwood Hill Park. Info: NYC Parks 
• Third Monday of each month, 7:00 p.m., CB 7 Parks & Environment Committee Meeting, 250 West 87th Street, 2nd floor. Info: (212) 362-4008; office@cb7.org
• Second Wednesday of each month, CB9 Health & Environment Committee Meeting, 16-18 Old Broadway. Info: (212) 864-6200; info@cb9m.org
• Third Thursday of each month, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Food and Water Watch Meeting (via Zoom). Info: Food and Water Watch, (347) 778-2743; Ethical Culture Society, (212) 874-5210
• Fourth Sunday of each month, 1:15 p.m., Environmental Stewardship Committee (via Zoom). Info: Ethical Culture Society, (212) 874-5210

The UWSR Eco Letter is made possible by generous funding from

City Council Member Gale Brewer and NYS Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell.