UWSR Eco Letter

March/April 2024

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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:

It’s Easy Being Green

It’s Easy Being Green (IEBG) is an example of the adage “act locally and think globally,” and how a small, local organization that promotes action within the community can have a much broader effect in alleviating a shared climate problem. 

IEBG is an all-volunteer climate education and personal action group on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, with a mission to educate their neighbors about the City’s efforts toward sustainability by providing them with easy-to-implement green practices. Areas on which they focus are: Reducing Plastic Usage (including bringing your own container to local restaurants and coffee and tea shops); Compost Resources; Climate Change and Energy Efficiency; and Legislation (Federal, State and Local).  

Sharon Waskow founded It’s Easy Being Green in 2019. According to Sharon, it was the birth of her granddaughter that prompted her. At that time she was a climate conscious person but did very little to help alleviate the problem. She asked herself, what would I say to my granddaughter if in the future she asks me, “What did you do about the climate crisis?” Sharon felt she had to get involved, so, with the networking assistance of Bloomingdale Aging in Place and the West 104th and West 102/103rd Street Block Associations, she recruited volunteers and IEBG was launched.

Sharon’s years spent as a Middle School Librarian taught her the power of information. The mission was clear from the start: inform our neighbors about the effects of climate change in New York City and what our civic institutions, organizations and scientists are doing to mitigate those effects.

The chief means of communicating their mission to neighbors is a monthly newsletter, whose subscribers now number 500+, and whose open rate stays near an impressive 68%. Each issue features an interview with a key NYC person working on sustainability, legislation, carbon reduction, zero waste and more. A monthly “Let’s Be Plastic Free” column provides reviews of personally tested products to help readers reduce reliance on plastic (see below). Up to date information on the City’s curbside food waste program and ways to advocate for NYC and NYS environmental laws are also offered.  And periodic Personal Action Blasts provide commentary on a variety of environmental topics.

click here for more information on IEBG

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, April 21, 2024, 10;00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Marlene Meyerson JCC, Amsterdam Avenue between 75th & 76th Streets. Info: 212-477-4022, Lower East Side Ecology
• Saturday, June 1, 2024, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Manhattan Plaza, 43rd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues. Info: 212-477-4022, Lower East Side Ecology

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, 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.
• Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Recycle Clothing and Other Textiles at both 106th Street and Amsterdam Avenue and 991 Amsterdam Avenue (in front of the Columbus Amsterdam BID office between 108th and 109th Streets). Info: info@columbusamsterdambid.org; 212-666-9774

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)

• Saturday, March 23, 2024, 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Stop 'N' Swap-Apparel Only (donations accepted: 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.), St. Mary's Church, 521 West 126th Street. Info: Grow NYC  
• Saturday, April 6, 2024, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Paper Shredding Event, 425 West 123rd Street. Info: Assemblymember Danny O’Donnell’s office, odonnelld@nyassembly.gov, 212-866-3970
• Saturday, April 27, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Info: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
• April or May 2024, Paper Shredding Event, 230 West 72nd Street. For date contact Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, rosenthall@nyassembly.gov, 212-873-6368
• 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
• CVS and Duane Reade Pharmacies: Safe disposal of unused medications; drop your unwanted, unused or expired medications in their medication disposal kiosk; no sharps.

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 between 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

• Friday, March 1, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Climate Justice Series: Resource Extraction and Energy Equity (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, va2483@columbia.edu 
• Thursday March 7, 2024, 9:00 a.m.10:30 a.m., CJIT Workshop Series Teaching Climate Justice Across the Curriculum (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, pag57@columbia.edu 
• 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
• Wednesdays, March 20, April 17, May 15, June 19, July 17 & August 21, 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
• Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Signature Speaker Series: Dr. Kate Calvin - NASA, The Forum at Columbia University, 601 West 125th Street. Info: Columbia Climate School
• Friday, March 29, 2024, 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Climate Constitutionalism Conference, Pace University, One Pace Plaza. Info: Climate Constitutionalism Conference (EventBrite) 
• 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
• Friday, April 12, 2024, 12:00 p.m.-6:15 p.m.; Saturday, April 13, 2024, 9:00 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 14, 2024, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Climate Reality Leadership Training in NYC (online). Info: Climate Reality Project
• Monday, April 15, 2024, 5:15 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Scarcity: A History from the Origins of Capitalism to the Climate Crisis, Fayerweather Hall (Room 513), Columbia University, 1180 Amsterdam Avenue. Info: Columbia Center for Science and Society  
• 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

• Saturday, March 9, 2024, 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Turn Composting Ahead: A Community Composting Event, Frank White Memorial Garden, 506 West 143rd Street. Info: NYC Parks, gjm@brotherhood-sistersol.org
• Wednesday, March 13, 2024, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., GrownNYC Hydroponics Workshop (online). Info: Hydroponics Workshop (EventBrite) 
• Wednesday, March 13, 2024, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Community Gardeners in Conversation with Zachary Schulman, The Arsenal Gallery, 830 5th Avenue - 3rd Floor. Info: NYC Parks 
• Sundays, March 17, April 21, May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15, October 20 & November 17, 2024, 10 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Sunday Stewardship Days, Heather Garden’s Margaret Corbin Circle entrance to Fort Tryon Park, Info: Fort Tryon Park Trust
• 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
• Saturdays, April 20, 27, & May 4, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., 40th Annual GreenThumb Grow Together Conference (various locations). Info: NYC Parks. greenthumbinfo@parks.nyc.gov
• 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

• Sunday, March 3, 2024, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m., Nature Exploration: Riverside Park, Entrance to Riverside Park, West 110th Street and Riverside Drive. Info: NYC Parks, 212-304-2277
• Monday, March 4, 2024, 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Zoe Nyssa - What a Model Might Do: Data and Value in Environmental Governance, Fayerweather Hall (Room 513), Columbia University, 1180 Amsterdam Avenue. Info: Columbia Center for Science and Society
• Saturday, March 9, 2024, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Birding: Winter Waterfowl, Central Park entrance - 85th Street and Central Park West. Info: NYC Parks, 212-304-2277
• Second and Fourth Saturdays, March 9 through November 23, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Broadway Beautification Days (Broadway Greeting Garden at the Arden Street/Broadway entrance). Info: Fort Tryon Park Trust 
• Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Rights of Nature – From Anthropocentrism to Ecocentrism (online). Info: Riverkeeper 
• Saturday, March 16, 2024, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m., Signs of Spring Hike, West 218th Street and Indian Road in Inwood Hill Park. Info: NYC Parks, 212-304-2277
• Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Virtual Rat Academy for Community Gardeners Sponsored by Grow NYC (online). Info: Register here
• Sunday, March 24, 2024, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Spring Blooming Hike, Central Park entrance - East 106th Street and Fifth Avenue. Info: NYC Parks, 212-360-1444
• Saturday, March 30, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m.., Riverside Park Birding Club, Entrance - 103rd Street and Riverside Drive (in Riverside Park). Info: NYC Parks 
• Saturday, March 30, 2024, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Birding: Early Spring Migration, West 218th Street and Indian Road, Inwood Hill Park. Info: NYC Parks, 212-304-2277.
• Sunday, March 31, 2024, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb! Weather Walk, Central Park entrance - 77th Street and Central Park West. Info: NYC Parks, 212-350-1444
• Monday, April 22, 2024, Earth Day 2024, all day (various events). Info: Earth Day 2024
• 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
• Second Saturday of every month, (except July, August, and December), WE ACT Membership Meeting, 1854 Amsterdam Avenue (at 152nd Street), 2nd Floor. Info: WE ACT, membership@weact.org, 212-961-1000
• 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.