New New York enviro laws coming our way?

Here are some issues Albany is considering (via NY League of Conservation Voters website):

ELECTRONICS WASTE RECYCLING (Click here to contact your legislators)

• Improper disposal of computers, televisions, printers and other devices releases toxic chemicals including lead, mercury, chromium, and cadmium, threatening public health and the environment.

  Albany needs to enact a law that would require that manufacturers of electronics be responsible for the collection, handling and recycling or reuse of discarded electronic equipment. This would require them to submit an e-waste management plan to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) by 2011, collect a minimum of 25 percent of annual equipment sales each year by 2016, and increase the collection rate to 45 percent by 2018.

  In addition, any e-waste bill should require that the manufacturers be responsible for costs associated with the development and implementation the plans, prohibiting the imposition of collection fees on consumers.
  

CLEAR THE WAY FOR FASTER BUSES (Click here to contact your legislators)

• Over the past 30 years, New York City bus ridership has increased by 53 percent. This has caused an increase in traffic congestion, due in part to vehicles other than buses utilizing bus-only lanes. In addition to slowing traffic, congested bus lanes cause vehicles to idle, releasing pollution into the air.

  A bill in the state Legislature (S. 2709/A. 862) would create a program to improve New York City bus mobility by installing cameras to photograph vehicles using bus lanes. This will improve enforcement of bus-lane use and create more efficient bus service for residents and visitors.

GIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THE POWER TO PURCHASE GREEN POWER (Click here to contact your legislators)
Under state law, local governments are required to purchase power (as well as other products) from the cheapest possible source. In many instances this law prohibits local governments from purchasing renewable power. By doing so the state is inadvertently hampering the market for renewable energy and impeding the growth of the state’s burgeoning clean tech economy.

S. 4599 would allow local governments to purchase clean energy at a limited additional cost. It is an important step towards improving New York’s commitment toward building a clean and sustainable energy future.

Albany county passes local food resolution

It can be done!  Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer supports a 100-200 mile “foodshed” for NYC.  We should let him know we agree.

RESOLUTION NO. 496-a
ESTABLISHING A LOCAL FOOD PURCHASING POLICY FOR ALBANY COUNTY

Introduced: 2/9/09

By Messrs. Nichols, Bullock, Domalewicz, Joyce, Steck, McCoy, Law Committee, Messrs. Aylward, Beston, Ms. Chapman, Messrs. Clay, Clenahan, Commisso, Ms. Connolly, Messrs. Cotrofeld, Dawson, Ethier, Higgins, Horstmyer, Houghtaling, Infante, Ms. Maffia-Tobler, Mr. Mayo, Ms. McKnight, Messrs. Morse, Rahm, Reilly, Scavo, Timmins, Ward and Ms. Willingham:

WHEREAS, It is the policy of Albany County to promote the economic vitality and public health and safety of its communities, and this “Local Food Purchasing Policy” is intended to increase regional per capita income, provide incentives for job creation, attract economic investment, fight global climate change and promote the health and safety of its citizens and communities, and

WHEREAS, “Locally produced food” shall mean food that the NYS Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets has established in a list verifying that the food is in sufficient quantity during ascertained periods of time each year and deemed beneficial to authorize a local food purchasing mandate, and

WHEREAS, A study in Iowa found that a regional diet consumed 17 times less oil and gas than a typical diet based on food shipped across the country and according to a study by the New Economics Foundation in London, a dollar spent locally generates twice as much income for the local economy, and

WHEREAS, Locally produced food makes farming more economically viable keeping farmers in business and saving valuable farmland from development, and

WHEREAS, While produce that is purchased in the supermarket or a big- box store has been in transit or cold-stored for days or weeks, produce purchased locally has often been picked within 24 hours providing fresh produce that not only improves the taste of food, but also the nutritional value of food which declines over time, and

WHEREAS, When a farmer is producing food that will not travel a long distance a shorter shelf life allows the farmer to try small crops of various fruits and vegetables making farming more profitable and providing consumers with more choices, now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, In accordance with Section 103 of the General Municipal Law, Albany County hereby establishes a “Local Food Purchasing Policy” whereby the Albany County Purchasing Agent shall request the assistance and advice of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets to establish the percentage of food products qualified as locally produced food for purchase for Albany County’sResidential Healthcare Facilities and the Albany County Correctional Facility, and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the Local Food Purchasing Policy shall be updated periodically as the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets releases updated lists of locally produced foods, and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the County Legislature is directed to forward certified copies of this resolution to the appropriate County Officials. Adopted by unanimous vote. 2/9/09 Mr. Gordon abstained.

Recyling Events

Council on the Environment of New York City has specialized recycling events from time to time. For example they do textile (old clothing) drop offs at the greenmarket in Union Square.

Here some more info on ongoing/upcoming events:

Clothing & Textile Recycling

Did you know that 5.7% of NYC’s residential waste is textile waste although textiles are 100% Recyclable? Bring your unwanted textile materials (Clothing, Hats, Coats, Towels, Bedding, Jackets, & Shoes, etc.) to one of our two drop-off sites and materials will be reused or recycled.

Material Mondays Union Square - Manhattan

NEW LOCATION! Due to construction at Union Square the layout of the Greenmarket has changed. Recyclers can find the textile drop-off on Mondays from 8 AM - 6 PM at the Southwest section of the park for the remainder of 2008. Click to view the map of the Monday Greenmarket.

Second Chance Saturdays Grand Army Plaza - Brooklyn

Recycle your clothing and textiles at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket every Saturday, 8 AM - 4 PM. Click here for complete details

Electronics Recycling

Electronics account for 70% of the toxins in landfills, but are just 1% of the volume.

Recycling events are offered by New York City Department of Sanitation, Goodwill Industries, Lower East Side Ecology Center and Per Scholas. You can also bring your unwanted electronics to your local Goodwill Store.

Upcoming E-Waste Collections

Electronics Recycling Days from the Lower East Side Ecology Center

For more information and to confirm dates, times and locations below please check with the Ecology Center at www.lesecologycenter.org

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Saturday, December 6 from 10 am to 4 pm
PS 321 Seventh Avenue between 1 & 2nd Streets Park Slope, Brooklyn

Freecycle New York City FreeMeet

Reduce, reuse and recycle by bringing items you no longer need to share with others. Please bring portable items only (no furniture or other heavy items. Sponsored by Sustainable Flatbush and Freecycle New York City.
Saturday, November 22, 12pm- 3pm
PS 217 Playground (1100 Newkirk Ave at Coney Island Ave), Flatbush Brooklyn
More info: www.RecycleThisNYC.org/freemeet

Recycling Outreach Volunteer Orientation

Learn what’s new with recycling in NYC and find out about volunteer opportunities at our Recycling Outreach Volunteer Orientation on Wednesday, Novermber 19th from 6:30pm to 8pm at our offices near City Hall.

For more information or to RSVP and receive meeting location details, see our Volunteer page.

Green in NYC

I hear from time to time that Bloomberg has green plans for the city, but I don’t know exactly what that means or what initiatives are under way.  It came as a pleasant surprise when bike lanes started appearing all over the place.  It turns out it takes 2 seconds to find out what the city is working on - check out the plaNYC website!  Some things to keep an eye on are the citywide emissions inventory, offshore windfarms, and the stormwater management plan (availabe to view this month!).  They have pretty frequent updates on progress and events, plus tips on how to green your home and other resources.

Air Storage is Explored for Energy

From The New York Times

By KEN BELSON
Published: August 26, 2008

When Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg dreamed out loud last week about a New York skyline filled with wind turbines, one of the most serious issues raised by the naysayers was that the wind does not always blow when you need it.

But a New Jersey company plans to announce on Tuesday that it is working on a solution to this perennial problem with wind power: using wind turbines to produce compressed air that can be stored underground or in tanks and released later to power generators during peak hours.

The company, Public Service Enterprise Group Global LLC, a subsidiary of P.S.E.G. Energy Holdings, is forming a joint venture with Michael Nakhamkin, a leader in the development of energy storage technology. The new company, Energy Storage and Power, will promote the use of compressed air storage technology to utilities and other power producers. (P.S.E.G. Global is the sister company of Public Service Electric and Gas Company, New Jersey’s largest power distributor, which has 2.2 million customers.)

The technology has been around for decades, though the only major plant in the United States opened in Alabama in 1991. Another plant was built in Germany in the 1970s. But compressed air storage is getting a fresh look because so many windmills have been built across the country in recent years, and energy producers are increasingly looking for ways to avoid building power plants that rely on expensive oil and natural gas.

Dr. Nakhamkin, who worked on the plant in Alabama, has developed new technology that reduces the startup time for generators powered by compressed air and cuts the amount of emissions they produce. The new facilities would also use more standard components, which would make the plants cheaper to build, depending on how much mining is required to create an underground reservoir.

“This is a game-changing technology,” said Stephen C. Byrd, the president of P.S.E.G. Energy Holdings, which will invest $20 million over three years. “There is a desire for energy independence, and this will reduce the need for oil and natural gas.” Read more »

Go Green Lower East Side

New York City Apple Day & Go Green Lower East Side
Sunday, October 19th, 2008
Orchard St. between Broome and Grand Streets
11am - 4:30pm

“Free apple treats, music, family activities, give-a-ways and learn how to Go Green!”  Check out the BID website for more info.