UWSR Eco Letter

March/April 2025

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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.

COMMENTARY:

Geology of New York City and Surroundings

You leave your apartment and head out to do some errands or meet a friend or go to a meeting. You feel the rigid sidewalk beneath your feet. The sound of an approaching subway train rumbling up through a grate makes you think of the complex systems underneath that make the subway possible and support the City’s electrical, technical, water, and sewage needs. 

We live only on the topmost layer of the crust of our planet and there is so very much more beneath. But what? If you take a walk in one of our beautiful parks, you’ll see the slope of the land and some impressive rock outcroppings. If you go online, some of the many images there of the “blue marble” that is our Earth from space reveal the wrinkles of mountain ranges and the divots of lakes. We know how the crust of the earth formed continents that came together or drifted apart over eons, and that each part of the current individual continents has its own geological character. 

So, what’s under us here in the New York area?

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL COMMENTARY

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, March 23, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Amsterdam Avenue between 109th & 110th Streets. Info: 212-477-4022, Lower East Side Ecology; Councilmember Shaun Abreu, 212-928-6814
• Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Flatiron South Plaza, Broadway between 23rd & 22nd Streets. Info: 212-477-4022, Lower East Side Ecology
• Sunday, May 4, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Avenue at 76th Street. Info: 212-477-4022, Lower East Side Ecology; Councilmember Gale Brewer, 212-873-0282
• Saturday, May 10, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., NYC Aids Memorial Park at St. Vincent’s Triangle Greenwich Avenue, between 11th & 12th Streets. Info: 212-477-4022, Lower East Side Ecology

Free Textile Recycling Events

(See also our Hard-to-Recycle List)

• Sunday, May 4, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Avenue at 76th Street. Info: Councilmember Gale Brewer, 212-873-0282: Green Tree Textiles, (347) 391-7189
• Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Recycle Clothing and Other Textiles at both 106th Street & Amsterdam and 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.

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

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

Currently open:

• 77th/79th Street Greenmarket [79th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West], 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Sundays
• Columbia University Greenmarket [Broadway and 116th Street], 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Sundays
• Inwood Greenmarket [Isham Street between Seaman Avenue and Cooper Street], 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m, Saturdays.

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)

• Daily, 2025, 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Hell's Kitchen Commons Food Scrap Drop Off, Matthews Palmer Park, 445 West 45th Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues). Info: 212-477-4022, Lower East Side Ecology
• Mondays, March 3-May 12, 2025, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Volunteer at the Compost Compound, 95th Street in Riverside Park (under the overpass). Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, mail@riversideparknyc.org, 212-970-3070
• Saturdays, March 8, April 12, & May 10, 2025, 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m., A Community Composting Event, Frank White Memorial Garden, 506 West 143rd Street. Info: NYC Parks, gjm@brotherhood-sistersol.org 
• 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.-7:30 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.

Climate Change & Energy

• Saturday, March 1, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m., NYC Youth Climate Justice Convergence, Social Hall (Lower Level), NY Society for Ethical Culture, 2 West 64th Street. Info: New York Society for Ethical Culture, (212) 874-5210
• Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Climate School Signature Speaker Series: Dr. Farhana Sultana, The Forum at Columbia University, 601 West 125th Street. Info: Columbia Climate School, oherrera@climate.columbia.edu
• Thursday, March 13, 2025, 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., The Public Health Impact of Wildfires - Rebuilding for Resilience (online). Info: 212-305-5704, Columbia Climate School, mf2865@cumc.columbia.edu
• Wednesdays, March 19, April 16, & May 21, 2025, 12:15 p.m.- 1:30 p.m., Monthly overview of IRI's Global Seasonal Climate, Forecasts and ENSO Status and Forecast (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, (212) 854-3830, Seminar@iri.columbia.edu
• Thursday, March 27, 2025, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., 2025 NYC Solar & Storage Installer Workshop (online). Info: Sustainable CUNY, sustainable@cuny.edu
• Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 2024 Summer Institute Showcase: Integrating Climate Change Education in NYC Public Schools, Smith Learning Theater, Teachers College. Info: Columbia University Teachers College, (212) 678-3000 
• Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Signature Speaker Series: Andrew Freedman, AXIOS, Going to Extremes: Life on the Front Lines of Climate Journalism, The Forum at Columbia University, 601 West 125th Street. Info: Columbia Climate School, oherrera@climate.columbia.edu
• Wednesday, April 9, 2025. 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12, Young Leaders in Action - Save Money, Reduce Emissions (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, lnz2104@columbia.edu, 212-854-0641
• Thursdays, April 10 & May 8, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy Seminar: Marc Porosoff, Mudd Hall 1045 Meeting Room, 500 West 120 Street. Info: Columbia Climate School, zl2453@columbia.edu
• Thursday, April 17, 2025, 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Signature Speaker Series: Professor Farhana Sultana, Ph.D., Confronting Climate Coloniality: Repairing Epistemic Injustice and Loss in the Era of Climate Breakdown, The Forum at Columbia University, 601 West 125th Street. Info: Columbia Climate School, oherrera@climate.columbia.edu
• Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Climate School Signature Speaker Series: Professor Katharine Mach, Increasing Preparedness for Intensifying Climate Change, The Forum at Columbia University, 601 West 125th Street. Info: Columbia Climate School, oherrera@climate.columbia.edu
• Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Climate Knowledge, Skepticism, & White Supremacy in Southern Africa, 513 Fayerweather Hall, 1180 Amsterdam Avenue at Columbia University. Info: Columbia Climate School, (212) 853-1612, scienceandsociety@columbia.edu
• Wednesday, May 14, 2025. 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12, The Role of Blue Carbon in Combating Climate Change and Restoring Biodiversity (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, lnz2104@columbia.edu, 212-854-0641
• Wednesday, June 11, 2025. 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12, Soil Solutions: Regenerative Agriculture & Climate Change (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, lnz2104@columbia.edu, 212-854-0641
• Monday, June 16, 2025-Wednesday, June 18, 2025, MR2025: Mobility, Adaptation, and Wellbeing in a Changing Climate (conference), Columbia University. Info: Columbia Climate School, (845) 365 8936, amd155@columbia.edu, sheehan.moore@columbia.edu
• Second Wednesday of each month, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., 350 NYC Buildings, Energy & Transportation Working Group (online). 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: The Ethical Culture Society; (212) 874-5210

Urban Greening

• Thursday, March 6, 2025, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Preparing for Spring: An Intro to Crop Planning (registration is required), 263 West 38th Street, 6th Floor. Info: New York Restoration Project, 212- 333-2552 
• Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., West Side Tree Care Clinic, Trees New York at Gertrude Ederle Recreation Center, 232 West 60 Street. Info: Gale Brewer’s office, 212-873-0282
• Fourth Saturday of each month, March 22-December 27, 2025, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Gardening, Ralph Ellison Memorial, 730 Riverside Drive (West 150th Street). Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, mail@riversideparknyc.org, 212-870-3070
• Sunday, March 23, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., Signs of Spring Hike, East 106th Street and Fifth Avenue in Central Park. Info: (212) 360-1444, NYC Parks
• Saturday, March 29, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Community Volunteer Day: Spring Clean Up (location to be determined). Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, mail@riversideparknyc.org, 212-970-3070
• Sunday, March 30, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Preparing the Pollinator Garden, West 218th Street and Indian Road in Inwood Hill Park. Info: (212) 304-2277, NYC Parks 
• Saturday, April 5, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Earth Day Volunteer Day, Clayton Williams Memorial Garden, 303 West 126th Street. Info: NYC Parks 
• Sundays, April 20, May 18, June 15, July 20, August 17, September 21, October 19 & November 16, 2025. 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Fort Tryon Park Sunday Stewardship, Heather Garden’s Margaret Corbin Circle Entrance. Info: Fort Tryon Park Trust, (212) 795-1388
• Fridays, April 25, May 30, June 27, July 25, August 22, September 26, & October 24, 2025; Saturdays, May 17, June 14, July 12, August 9, September 13, & October 11, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Volunteer at the Riley-Levin Demonstration Garden, 3703 10th Avenue (Sherman Creek Park). Info: New York Restoration Project, 212- 333-2552 
• Saturday, April 26, 2025, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., My Park Day: Spring Edition (volunteer at various locations). Info: 212-870-3070, Riverside Park Conservancy, mail@riversideparknyc.org
• Sunday, April 27, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Big Reuse West Side Tree Care Clinic, outside Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Avenue at West 76 Street; RSVP required. Info: Gale Brewer’s office, 212-873-0282
• Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Tree Identification: Buds, Blooms and Leaves with Will Thomson, East 79th Street and Fifth Avenue in Central Park. Info: NYC Parks, fabiola.caceres@parks.nyc.gov
• Thursday, May 8, 2025, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Preparing for Open Garden NYC, Family Community Garden, 156 East 111th Street and Fifth Avenue in Central Park. Info: NYC Parks, fabiola.caceres@parks.nyc.gov
• Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., West Side Tree Care Clinic, Big ReUse at Goddard Riverside Older Adult Center, 593 Columbus Avenue (between 88th and 89th Streets). Info: Gale Brewer’s office, 212-873-0282
• First Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m., CB9 Landmarks Preservation & Parks Committee Meeting [via Zoom]. Info: CB9, (212) 864-6200

Environmental - Miscellaneous

• First Saturday of each month, March 1-December 6, 2025, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Volunteer at the Bird Sanctuary, meet at 120th Street and Riverside Drive. Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, mail@riversideparknyc.org, 212-970-3070
• Sunday, March 2, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., Birding: Spring Migration, West 77th Street and Central Park West in Central Park. Info: NYC Parks, (212) 360-1444
• Wednesday, March 5, 2025, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., Poison Beyond Pests: Understanding Pesticide Risks and Community Action Planning (We Act), Juan Pablo Duarte Foundation, 4211 Broadway, Suite 23-A. Info: We Act, (212) 961-1000
• Friday, March 7, 2025, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., Andrea Ballestero on Water as a Human Right and as a Commodity, The Forum at Columbia University, 601 West 125th Street. Info: Columbia Climate School, pvreeland@climate.columbia.edu, 
• Wednesday, March 12, 2025. 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12: Threading the Needle - Tackling Microplastic Pollution from Clothing (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, 212-854-0641, lnz2104@columbia.edu
• Saturday, March 22, 2025, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Birding: Early Spring Migration, West 100th Street and Central Park West in Central Park. Info: NYC Parks, (212) 360-1444
• Saturday, March 22, 2025, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Guided Birding Walk, Heather Graden, Fort Tryon Park (meet at the Margaret Corbin Circle entrance). Info: Fort Tryon Park Trust
• Second and Fourth Saturdays, March 22 through November 29, 2025, 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., Broadway Beautification Days (Broadway Greeting Garden at the Arden Street/Broadway entrance), Info: Fort Tryon Park Trust 
• Saturday, March 29, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., Insect Exploration Hunt, West 116th Street and Riverside Drive in Riverside Park. Info: (212) 304-2277, NYC Parks  
• Saturdays, April 5 & May 3, 2025, 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Volunteer at the Bird Sanctuary (meet at 120th Street and Riverside Drive). Info: Riverside Park Conservancy , 212-870-3070
• Saturday, April 26, 2025, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Beyond Plastics' Inaugural Regional Conference, New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 West 64th Street. Info: ChristinaDubin@bennington.edu; Beyond Plastics 
• 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.