UWSR Eco Letter

September/October 2023

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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.

COMMENTARY:

WE ACT for Environmental Justice

On January 15, 1988, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, seven West Harlem activists engaged in an act of civil disobedience to protest the North River Sewage Treatment Plant. This massive facility – originally planned to be sited in a wealthier, predominately white neighborhood of Manhattan – was eventually built in the predominantly Black community of West Harlem. Not only did it produce noxious odors from its open sewage tanks, but the plant was not built to code, resulting in harmful air pollution for a community already burdened with health issues resulting from air pollution.

That morning, then West Harlem Democratic District Leaders Peggy Shepard and Chuck Sutton, then-state Senator and later Governor David Paterson, former Council member Hilton Clark and three others were arrested for peacefully holding up rush-hour traffic on the West Side Highway. As a result of this protest, they were branded the “Sewage Seven."

Two months later, in March of 1988, Peggy Shepard, Vernice Miller-Travis, and Chuck Sutton filed the 501(c)(3) paperwork to create West Harlem Environmental Action, which became known as WE ACT for Environmental Justice. It was New York City’s first environmental justice organization, and one of the first environmental organizations in New York State run by people of color.

The organization was formed in order to file a lawsuit – along with fellow plaintiffs, including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Hamilton Heights Day Care Center – against the New York City Department of Environmental Protection for operating the North River Sewage Treatment Plant as a public and private nuisance. In 1993, they reached a settlement with the City, which included the establishment of a $1.1 million fund related to environmental health and quality of life.

The organization’s next major campaign sought to address the disproportionate air pollution caused by the fact that six out of the seven Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (MTA) bus depots in Manhattan were located north of 99th Street in communities of color. This public awareness campaign, “Dump Dirty Diesel,” was launched in 1997 and urged the MTA to commit to invest in clean-fuel buses and modify their bus depots to accommodate them.

In 2000, WE ACT and several Northern Manhattan community residents filed a Title VI Complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), charging the MTA with violating the civil rights of Northern Manhattan residents. In response, the DOT concluded that the MTA must give due consideration to environmental justice principles in its siting decisions. Two years later, then Governor George Pataki and key state legislators promised that the MTA would replace hundreds of diesel fuel buses with alternative fuel vehicles. The MTA has been investing in cleaner buses ever since, including a new electric articulated bus that is now operating on the M60 SBS route in Harlem.

Click here for more about WE ACT’s mission and current programs.

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, September 10, 2023, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Amsterdam Avenue between 109th & 110th Streets (part of NYC Open Streets). Info: LESEC, 212-477-4022, Columbus-Amsterdam BID, info@columbusamsterdambid.org, 212-666-9774 
• Sunday, October 15, 2023, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Manhattan SAFE Disposal Event, Union Square, North Plaza, South side of 17th Street between Park Avenue South & Broadway; cars approach from Park Avenue South & 20th Street. Info: DSNY 
• Sunday, October 22, 2023, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Marlene Meyerson JCC, Amsterdam Avenue between West 75th & West 76th Streets. Info: LESEC, 212-477-4022, Gale Brewer’s Office, 212-873-0282 

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 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).

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, September 5, 2023, 1:30 p.m., Reusable NYC Coalition Meeting [online]. Info: Zoom link: https://surfrider-org.zoom.us/j/88974991416, Meeting ID: 889 7499 1416, phone (US): 646 876 9923
• Saturday, September 16, 2023, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., International Coastal Clean-up Day 2023; two locations in Riverside Park: West 100th Street (Cherry Walk); West 148th Street (10 Mile Playground). Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, (212) 870-3089
• Monday, September 18, to Friday, September 22, 2023, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., The Great Broadway Sweep (various locations: ). Info: Sanitation Foundation
• Saturday, September 23, 2023, 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., GrowNYC Stop ‘n Swap, Wagner Houses - The Green Space, East 120th Street and 1st Avenue. Info: GrowNYC 
• Saturday, September 30, 2023, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Composting Tour, 96th Street Tennis Courts, Hudson River Greenway. Info: Riverside Park Conservancy
• October or November 2023. Paper Shredding Event. For date and location contact Danny O’Donnell’s office, odonnelld@nyassembly.gov, 212-866-3970
• Saturday, October 14, 2023, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., No Cost Community Shredding (paper), First Avenue & 92nd Street. Info: Rebecca Seawright’s Office, seawrightr@nyassembly.gov, (212) 288-4607
• Sunday, October 15, 2023, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Manhattan SAFE Disposal Event, Union Square, North Plaza, South side of 17th Street. Info: DSNY 
• Tuesdays, 2023, 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Compost Drop-Off, Southeast corner of 10th Avenue and 43rd Street. Info: Lower East Side Ecology, 212-477-4022,
• 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

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

• Monday, September 11, 2023, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Mindfulness, Citizenship, & Engagement (online). Info: ri2123@columbia.edu, Columbia Climate School
• Tuesday, September 12, 2023, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Climate, Politics, and Corporate Power: A Conversation with Human Rights Attorney Steven Donziger ($20, $10 members), Ethical Culture Society, Adler Hall, 2 West 64th Street. Info: Ethical Culture Society
• Sunday, September 17, 2023, 1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., March to End Fossil Fuels, 56th Street & Broadway (the march will start on Broadway, between 54th and 57th Street and proceed to 1st Avenue and 50th Street). Info: End Fossil Fuels
• September 17-24, 2023, Climate Week NYC (various events throughout the city). Info: Climate Week NYC 
• Monday, September 18, 2023, 7:00 p.m.-8:15 p.m., Up2Us2023: A Better World is Possible - Climate Week NYC (live and online). Ethical Culture Society, Adler Hall, 2 West 64th Street. Info: Ethical Culture Society 
• Tuesday, September 19, 2023, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Global Careers in Renewable Energy, Faculty House, 64 Morningside Drive, 2nd Floor Seminar Ballroom. Info: Columbia Climate School
• Tuesday, September 19, 2023, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Corporate Net Zero Pledges: Are Nature-Based Offsets Legitimate?, The Blue Gallery NYC, 222 East 46th Street. Info: Columbia Climate School 
• Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Adapting to the New Age of Wildfire, Jerome L. Greene Performing Space, 44 Charlton Street. Info: 845-677-5343, Columbia Climate School
• Thursdays, September 21, October 19, November 16 & December 21, 2023, 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, September 22, 2023, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Real Solutions or Expensive Distractions, New York City Bar Association, 42 West 44th Street. Info: 212-854-0088, Columbia Climate School
• Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Scaling & Commercializing Innovation for Climate Action (online). Info: ri2123@columbia.edu, Columbia Climate School
• Monday, October 23, 2023, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Ethics in Action: The Role of CBOs and NGOs (online). Info: Columbia Climate School
• First Wednesday of each month, 7:00 p.m., 350 NYC Local Solutions Group (via Zoom). Info: 350 NYC, register here.
• Second Wednesday of each month, 7:00 p.m., 350 NYC Transportation Group (via Zoom). Info: 350 NYC, register here.
• Third Wednesday of each month, 7:00 p.m., 350 NYC Media Task Force (via Zoom). Info: 350 NYC, register here.
• Fourth Wednesday of each month, 7:00 p.m., 350 NYC General Meeting (via Zoom). Info: 350 NYC, register here.
• 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, September 8, 2023, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Inwood Hill Park Forest Restoration, Payson Playground in Inwood Hill Park. Info: NYC Parks
• Saturdays, September 9 & 23, October 14 & 28, November 11 & 25, 2023, 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, (212) 795-1388, Fort Tryon Park Trust, info@forttryonparktrust.org
• Sundays, September 10 & October 15, 2023, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m., Volunteer: Highbridge Forest Crew (registration required), 190th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. Info: New York Restoration Project, 212.333.2552
• Sundays, September 17, October 15 & November 19, 2023, 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
• Saturdays, September 23 & October 7, 2023, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Volunteer: Sherman Creek Stewards, 3703 10th Avenue. Info: New York Restoration Project 
• 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, September 8, 2023, 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Birding Walk, 120th Street and Riverside Drive. Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, (212) 870-3089
• Saturdays, September 9 & 23, 2023, 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., Billion Oyster Project Presentation, West 125 Street Pier. Info: NYC Parks, Summeronthehudson@gmail.com, (212) 870-3089  
• Monday, September 18, 2023, 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Hearing Nature’s Voice: Perspectives from Law, Ethics, Business and Science, 90 Claremont Avenue. Info: Center for Earth Ethics, (212) 280-1425,
• Tuesday, September 19, 2023, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Rethinking Water: Solutions Now for America's Water Infrastructure, The Forum at Columbia University, 601 West 125th Street. Info: Columbia Climate School, DBagdasarov@scienscapital.com
• Thursday, September 21, 2023, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Sustainable Development: Investing in Nature and Sustainable Economies in the Global South, International Affairs Building (6th Floor), 420 West 118th Street. Info: Columbia University Center for Science & Society 
• Saturday, September 23, 2023, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., National Public Lands Day 2023 (invasive species removal project); locations in Riverside Park to be announced. Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, (212) 870-3089
• Saturdays, September 30, October 28 & November 25, 2023, 7:00 a.m.-8:30 a.m., Riverside Park Birding Club, 108th Street & Riverside Drive. Info: Riverside Park Conservancy, Summeronthehudson@gmail.com, (212) 870-3089
• Tuesday, October 3, 2023, 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Endocrine Disrupters in Plastics: State Policy Options (online). Info: beyondplastics@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
• 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.