UWSR Eco Letter

November/December 2024

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:

PFAS - "Forever Chemicals"

This is likely not the first time – and it will hardly be the last – that you’ll read about PFAS, and with good reason. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of nearly 15,000 man-made chemicals that break down extremely slowly due to their very strong carbon-fluorine bond and can thus accumulate in the environment and in our bodies over time. This is why they’re often referred to as “forever chemicals.” 

PFAS are probably the most persistent class of man-made chemicals that has ever been developed. They are used so widely and persistently in our environment that they can be found, usually at low levels, in the blood of people and animals all over the world. PFAS have contaminated drinking water in many areas of the United States. They’ve been widely used in various consumer, commercial and industrial products since the 1940’s. These include food and food packaging, refrigerants, cookware, firefighting foam, soft contact lenses, cosmetics, household products, water- or stain-resistant textiles or carpets, adhesives, paints, other building materials, and even dental floss. They also occur at production facilities that produce or use PFAS – for example at chrome plating, electronics, and certain textile and paper manufacturers – as well as in landfills and hazardous waste sites. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to PFAS may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals.

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

• Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Fall 2024 E-Waste Recycling Drive, Duffy Square (corner of 46th Street and 7th Avenue). Info: Broadway Green Alliance

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, November 10, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Recycle Your E-Waste, JCC, Amsterdam Avenue between West 75th and West 76th Streets. Info: Lower East Side Ecology, 212-477-4022

Free Textile Recycling Events

(See also our Hard-to-Recycle List)

• Monday, October 28 - Sunday, November 10, 2024, Children's Fall & Winter Clothing Drive, Marlene Meyerson JCC, 334 Amsterdam Avenue (between 75th & 76th Streets. Info: 646-505-4444, Marlene Meyerson JCC
• Sunday, November 10, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Fall Community Recycling Day, Marlene Meyerson JCC, 334 Amsterdam Avenue (between 75th & 76th Streets); gently used fall and winter clothing for distribution to unhoused New Yorkers; other textiles and clothing with Green Tree Textile Recycling; co-sponsored by Council Member Gale Brewer. Info: Marlene Meyerson JCC
• 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.
• 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

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 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.

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)

• Daily, 2024, 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
• Monday, November 4, 2024, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Paper Shredding Event, West 137th Street & Montefiore Square (just east of Broadway). Info: Councilmember Shaun Abreu, district7@council.nyc.gov, 212-928-6814
• Mondays, November 4 & 11, 2024, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Volunteer at the Compost Compound, West 9th Street near the West Side Highway. Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, 212-870-3070
• Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Paper Shredding Event, 230 West 72nd Street. Info: Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, 212-873-6368; rosenthall@nyassembly.gov
• Friday, November 15, 2024, New York Recycles! Day (various events). Info: Recycling@dec.ny.gov, 518-402-8706
• 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

• Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12, Bringing Youth Voices to the Climate Conversation (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, lnz2104@columbia.edu, 212-854-0641
• Wednesdays, November 20, December 18, 2024 & January 15, February 19, March 19, 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
• Thursday, November 21 - Friday, November 22, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Geography 2050: Cooperation & Conflict in a Changing Climate, Lerner Hall, 2920 Broadway. Info: Columbia Climate School, 845-365 8936, amd155@columbia.edu
• Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12 - Coral Research to Advance Reef Restoration (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, lnz2104@columbia.edu, 212-854-0641
• Wednesday, February 12, 2025. 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12, Architectures of Peace: Linking Sustainability, Security, and Stability (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, lnz2104@columbia.edu, 212-854-0641
• 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

• November 2024, City Parks Foundation hosts various planting and cleanup events in Northern Manhattan parks and throughout the City. Info: City Parks Foundation
• Fridays, November 1, 8, & 15, 2024, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Volunteer in South Park (68th Street & Riverside Blvd). Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, 212-870-3070
• Wednesdays, November 6, 13 & 20, 2024, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Volunteer at Buckeye Garden (93rd Street & Riverside Drive). Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, 212-870-3070
• Wednesdays, November 6 - December 4, 2024, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Volunteer at Sakura Park (north of West 122nd Street between Riverside Drive and Claremont Avenue). Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, 212-870-3070
• Thursdays, November 7 & 21, and December 5, 2024, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Island Vibes: Restoring the Riverside Drive Islands. Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, 212-870-3070
• Saturday, November 16, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Riverside Park’s Annual Leaf Lift, 730 Riverside Drive (West 150th Street). Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, 212-870-3070
• Sunday, November 17, 2024, 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
• Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., West Side Tree Care Clinic, Marlene Meyerson JCC, 334 Amsterdam Avenue (between 75th & 76th Streets. Info: Gale Brewer’s office, 212-873-0282, West Side Tree Care Clinic
• Saturdays, November 23, December 28, 2024 & January 25, 2025, 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m., Gardening at Ralph Ellison Memorial, 730 Riverside Drive (West 150th Street). Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, 212-870-3070
• Sunday, November 24, 2024, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Autumn Gardening: Bulb Planting, West 218th Street and Indian Road (in Inwood Hill Park). Info: 212-304-2277, NYC Parks
• Sunday, December 22, 2024, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Winter Tree ID: The Pinetum, 85th Street and Central Park West (in Central Park). Info: NYC Parks, 212-360-1444
• Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Trees New York, Gertrude Ederle Recreation Center, 232 West 60 Street. Info: Gale Brewer’s office, 212-873-0282, West Side Tree Care Clinic
• 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

• Saturday, November 2, 2024, 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
• Sunday, November 3, 2024, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Native American Heritage Month: Lenape Ethnobotany, Seaman Avenue and Isham Street (in Inwood Hill Park). Info: NYC Parks, 212-304-2277
• Saturday, November 9, 2024, 11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Fall Foliage Hike, Seaman Avenue and Isham Street (in Inwood Hill Park). Info: NYC Parks, 212-304-2277
• Saturdays, November 9 & 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 NYC Parks
• Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 5:10 p.m.-7:10 p.m., Developing Ecocritical Literacy in the Face of the Environmental Crisis: How Can Arts Education Contribute to Transforming Our Way of Being in the World? (online). Info: Columbia University Teachers College
• Thursday, November 14, 2024, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Community Ecology Reading Group: Trees, Wildlife, and Waterways Walk, Collect Pond Park, Leonard Street between Centre and Lafayette. Info: greenthumbinfo@parks.nyc.gov, NYC Parks
• Saturday, November 16, 2024, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Nature Exploration: The North Woods, West 100 Street and Central Park West (in Central Park). Info: NYC Parks, 212-360-1444
• Sunday, November 17, 2024, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Outdoor Skills: Primitive Firemaking, West 218th Street and Indian Road (in Inwood Hill Park). Info: 212-304-2277, NYC Parks 
• Friday, November 29, 2024, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Post-Thanksgiving Day Hike: Northern Manhattan Parks Super Hike, West 218th Street and Indian Road (in Inwood Hill Park). Info: NYC Parks, 212-304-2277 
• Saturday, November 30, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m., Riverside Park Birding Club, 116th Street and Riverside Drive (in Riverside Park). Info: NYC Parks
• Sunday, December 8, 2024, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., Birding: Winter Waterfowl, East 90th Street and Fifth Avenue (in Central Park). Info: NYC Parks, 212-360-1444
• Saturday, December 21, 2024, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., Winter Wonderland Hike, West 218th Street and Indian Road (in Inwood Hill Park). Info: NYC Parks, 212-304-2277
• 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