UWSR Eco Letter

November/December 2025

If this free Eco Letter was forwarded to you and you'd like to be included in our mailing list, click here.

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:

New York Restoration Project

Since its founding in 1995, the New York Restoration Project (NYRP) has collaborated with residents in communities across the five boroughs to renovate gardens, grow food, restore parks, plant trees, protect our shorelines, and build partnerships that transform the city’s landscape. NYRP stewards over 80 acres of parkland in Northern Manhattan and plants or distributes thousands of free trees annually. They also build, own and operate community gardens throughout all five boroughs.

NYRP is the only nonprofit citywide conservancy in New York City that brings private resources to spaces that lack adequate municipal support, with the goal of fortifying the city's aging infrastructure and creating a healthier environment for those who live in the most densely populated and the least green neighborhoods.

When famed entertainer Bette Midler returned to the city that helped launch her celebrated career, she found many of its streets, neighborhoods, and parks consumed by a sea of litter and the accumulated effects of years of neglect. Appalled at the state of open, green spaces, Bette recruited friends and family to remove garbage from parks in northern Manhattan. Then, on July 7, 1995, she founded the New York Restoration Project, with the goal of revitalizing neglected neighborhood parks in economically disadvantaged New York City neighborhoods, including Sherman Creek Park, Highbridge Park, Fort Washington Park, and Fort Tryon Park in Upper Manhattan.

Click here to read more about the New York Restoration Project.

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

Hosted by Lower East Side Ecology; (212) 477-4022; events occur 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).

• Saturday, November 8, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Carnegie Hill, 1326 Madison Avenue (between 94th & 95th Streets. Info: 212-477-4022, Lower East Side Ecology, DSNY
• Sunday, January 11, 2026, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Union Square, North Plaza (17th Street, between Broadway & Park Avenue South). Info: Lower East Side Ecology
• Saturday, January 17, 2026, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Church of the Holy Name of Jesus/St. Gregory the Great, Amsterdam Avenue between West 96th & 97th Streets. Info: Lower East Side Ecology

DSNY Community E-Waste Events (check for future events; many are co-sponsored with Lower East Side Ecology)

Other E-Waste Events

• Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Fall 2025 E-Waste Reuse & Recycling Drive, Duffy Square (the corner of 46th Street and 7th Avenue). Info: Broadway Green Alliance 

Free Textile Recycling Events

(See also our Hard-to-Recycle List)

• Saturday, November 1, to Friday, November 7, 2025, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Fall + Winter Children's Clothing Drive. Info: Marlene Meyerson JCC, 646-505-4444
• Saturday, November 8, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Textile Collection by Lower East Side Ecology, Carnegie Hill, 1326 Madison Avenue (between 94th & 95th Streets. Info: Lower East Side Ecology, 212-477-4022; DSNY
• Sunday, January 11, 2026, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Union Square, North Plaza (17th Street, between Broadway & Park Avenue South). Info: Lower East Side Ecology
• Saturday, January 17, 2026, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Church of the Holy Name of Jesus/St. Gregory the Great, Amsterdam Avenue between West 96th & 97th Streets. Info: Lower East Side Ecology
• 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

DSNY Community Textile Events (check for future events; many are co-sponsored with Lower East Side Ecology)

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

Accepted by Wearable Collections: clean and dry textiles, including clothing, pairs of shoes, hats, handbags, belts, blankets, sheets, curtains, towels, etc.

Not Accepted: Fabric scraps, pillows, comforters, luggage or rugs/carpeting.

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 [77th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West], 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 (you need to 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)

• Mondays, November 3, 10, 17, 2025, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Volunteer at the Compost Compound, 95th Street in Riverside Park. Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, (212) 870-3070
• 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
• Second Wednesday of each month, 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
• DSNY hosts SAFE Disposal Events. For a full list of accepted goods and more information see DSNY or call 311.

Climate Change & Energy

• Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Science and Spirituality: An Ethical Stocktake Dialogue to Inspire COP30 (online). Info: Center for Earth Ethics, (212) 280-1425, info@centerforearthethics.org
• Friday, November 7, 2025, 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., Creator's Night: Writing Books to Save the Planet - Bill McKibben, 3022 Broadway, Uris Hall, Room 107 (Calder Lounge). Info: Columbia Climate School, mlg17@columbia.edu
• Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Research Seminar Series - Kevin Schwarzwald (on uncertainty in projections of climate impacts), 2910 Broadway, Hogan A. Info: Columbia Climate School, 212.854.2274, anita@climate.columbia.edu
• Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 pm, Financing Climate Adaptation: Old Challenges, Emerging Threats, Novel Solutions, (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, events@climate.columbia.edu
• Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12: When Collective Action Works: Revisiting the Montreal Protocol, (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, (212-854-0641, lnz2104@columbia.edu
• Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., Match Made in HVAC: Choosing the Right Heat Pump for Your Building, (online). Info: Urban Green 
• Monday, December 1, 2025, 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m., Reflections from Belém: Columbia at COP30, The Forum at Columbia University, 601 West 125th Street. Info: Columbia Climate School, oherrera@climate.coumbia.edu
• Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., The Power Shift: Battery Storage & Environmental Justice in New York (online). Info: Adamah 
• Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12: When Waters Rise: How Flash Flood Preparedness Strengthens Communities, (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, lnz2104@columbia.edu, 212-854-0641
• Wednesday, February 18 - Thursday, February 19, 2026, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Midwinter Climate Institute (for teachers). Info: Teachers College, Columbia University
• Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12: Voices for the Future: Climate Communication that Connects & Empowers (online), Info: Columbia Climate School, (212-854-0641, lnz2104@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

• Wednesdays, November 5 to November 19, 2025, 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
• Wednesdays, November 5 to November 19, 2025, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Volunteer in the Sweet Spot: 72nd to 96th Streets (various locations in Riverside Park & Riverside Drive). Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, (212) 870-3070
• Fridays, November 7 to November 21, 2025, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Volunteer in South Park, West 68th Street & Riverside Blvd. Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, 212-870-3070
• Saturday, November 8, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Inwood Hill Park Forest Restoration, Seaman Avenue and Isham Street. Info: NYC Parks, stewardship@parks.nyc.gov
• Saturday, November 8, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Volunteer at the Riley-Levin Demonstration Garden, 3710 10th Avenue, (Sherman Creek Park). Info: New York Restoration Project, 212- 333-2552
• Saturday, November 8, 2025, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Fall Foliage Hike, Seaman Avenue and Isham Street. Info: Urban Park Rangers, (212) 304-2277, NYC Parks, stewardship@parks.nyc.gov
• Saturdays, November 8, & December 13, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Broadway Beautification Days, in Fort Tryon Park (meet at Broadway Greeting Garden at the Arden Street/Broadway entrance). Info: Fort Tryon Park Conservancy 
• Sunday, November 9, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Leaf Peeping in Central Park Hike, West 100 Street and Central Park West in Central Park. Info: NYC Parks, (212) 304-2277
• Thursday, November 13, 2025, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Island Vibes: Restoring the Riverside Drive Islands (between 97th and 116th Streets). Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, 212-870-3070
• Saturday, November 15, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Riverside Park’s Annual Leaf Lift (various locations). Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, 212-870-3070
• Saturday, November 15, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Autumn Gardening: Bulb Planting, West 218th Street and Indian Road in Inwood Hill Park. Info: NYC Parks, (212) 304-2277
• Sundays, November 16, & December 21, 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 Conservancy, (212) 795-1388 
• Saturday, November 22, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Autumn Meditation Hike, West 218th Street and Indian Road in Inwood Hill Park. Info: NYC Parks, (212) 304-2277 
• 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 1, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., Urban Wildlife Scavenger Hunt, West 100 Street and Central Park West in Central Park. Info: NYC Parks, (212) 360-1444
• Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Toxic Chemicals in Plastics (Webinar). Info: Beyond Plastics 
• on or about November 15, 2025 (date TBD based on migration), River Watch with Scopes at Dyckman Fields in Inwood Hill Park (registration required; after your registration is confirmed, the Registrar will share directions and the exact meeting place). Info: The Linnaean Society, deborramullins3@gmail.com
• Saturday, November 22, 2025, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Accessible Birding in Fort Tryon Park with Alex Wang, Margaret Corbin Circle in Fort Tryon Park. Info: NYC Bird Alliance 
• Friday, November 28, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Post-Thanksgiving Day Hike: Northern Manhattan Parks Super Hike, Margaret Corbin Circle in Fort Tryon Park. Info: NYC Parks, (212) 304-2277
• Saturday, November 29, 2025, 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Riverside Park Birding Club, 116th Street and Riverside Drive (in Riverside Park). Info: NYC Parks, soh@riversideparknyc.org
• Saturday, November 29, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Outdoor Skills: Orienteering, West 218th Street and Indian Road in Inwood Hill Park. Info: Urban Park Rangers, (212) 304-2277
• Sunday, November 30, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Central Park Highlights Hike, West 72nd Street and Central Park West in Central Park. Info: NYC Parks, (212) 360-1444 
• Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12: Inside College Life: Students' Perspective on Sustainability, (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, lnz2104@columbia.edu, 212-854-0641
• Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Climate LIVE K12: The Secret Life of a Dress (online). Info: Columbia Climate School, lnz2104@columbia.edu, 212-854-0641
• 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.