The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

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Becoming an Eco-Warrior

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Photo courtesy of the ClimateCenter.org

Most educated adults are aware of the rapidly declining state of the environment, but many, if not the majority of us, find it easy to ignore the urgency of it. I, myself, did not confront exactly what is going on and what I can do about it until I started studying it in college. 

I did not go into college planning on studying the environment, I didn’t even know there was a major for that, but now as a rising junior, I have found myself as an environmental studies minor at Georgetown University. I had picked a random class to fulfill my “science for all” credit that I need to graduate, and it ended up inspiring my minor. Becoming environmentally conscious can be easier than you think, and it is becoming less and less of a choice. The world is suffering at the hands of global warming, pollution, and loss of biodiversity, among a variety of other devastating issues, but change, believe it or not, can begin with you!

The first step you can take to make a difference is educating yourself. There are plenty of resources both online and off that make this very accessible and interesting. A great online tool to bring your awareness to the impact we each individually have on the environment is carbon footprint calculators that take information about your lifestyle and living habits. They tell you in what ways that is contributing negatively to the environment. Being aware of this may be intimidating, but is also important so you can figure out how to change some of these harmful habits. Websites like footprintcalculator.org tell you specific ways you can reduce your footprint based on your results. 

Another way to educate yourself is by taking a trip to your local library (or an online alternative). There are great books that turn this invaluable information into an interesting read. Some suggestions that I have found to be helpful and fascinating reads are The Brilliant Abyss by Helen Scales, The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert, A Life on Our Planet by David Attenborough, and The Serengeti Rules by Sean B. Carroll.

Beyond educating yourself, you can also take action in your home by switching to a variety of reusable products. These products are usually fantastic swaps, with many of them being far more cost effective and better quality, all while being better for the environment. A lot of these switches are much easier to make than you might think: you can start just by using reusable water bottles, straws, and shopping bags. You can go even further by investing in wool dryer balls – a one-time purchase alternative to dryer sheets – eco-friendly tampon alternatives like the DivaCup, or making the switch to zero-waste shampoo and conditioner products that avoid plastic packaging. 

So many products in our home have sustainable alternatives, and all of these changes can go a long way for our planet. From educating yourself and others to taking action in your own home, these simple tasks can make you an eco-warrior – something our planet and our future generations will thank you for.

Making Sense of the New Recycling Rules

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On January 1st, the Town of New Castle released new regulations regarding standards for recycling. Previously the United States used to export much of its recycling waste to China. Unfortunately, China recently stopped taking this foreign recycling waste. The new “Dual Stream Recycling” policy supports the town of New Castle’s goal of recycling as much as possible, while reducing recycling fees. Inside Press asked Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein to help clarify the new regulations. He offered the following tips:

1. Separate recycling into cardboards and papers or plastics and glass.This way, the materials are easier and cheaper to process once received.

2. Clean plastics and glass recyclables of food residue, or the entire load can become contaminated and therefore will be treated as trash.

3. Throw out pizza boxes, as most have food residue and grease that contaminate the paper and cardboard.

4. Don’t put recyclables in plastic bags because the bags jam the processing machinery. Reuse plastic bags and take them to stores that recycle.

These changes help make the entire recycling process more efficient and less costly, he said.

Michael Cicale, New Castle’s Recycling Center Foreman, explained that recycling is a “for-profit” business and the new rules were implemented to help ease the process of receiving recyclables. He further stated that many recyclable items end up being thrown out due to a high contamination rate.

Residents on ‘Chappaqua Moms,’ an online forum for community members, discussed the new regulations. Diane Bernstein said she has found ways to donate and reuse goods that cannot be recycled and would otherwise have to be thrown away. For example, Bernstein collects empty and clean medicine bottles for an organization that distributes them in Africa to people who cannot afford these containers, which are needed to keep pills safe from moisture and away from small children.

The Problem with ‘Wishful Recycling’

In a joint statement, Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB) members Kathy Schreiber and Jennifer Mebes Flagg told the Inside Press: “The SAB is working with the Town on continued education efforts to help residents understand the new rules and curtail “wishful recycling” which is when people put things in recycling bins they hope are recyclable or think should be recyclable.

Unfortunately, wishful recycling contaminates recycling collections, turning the entire load into garbage while increasing processing costs.” The new regulations, they insist, increase people’s awareness about how recycling works, and reduce the town’s costs.

Ongoing efforts to reduce waste town-wide include the Town’s Food Scrap Recycling Program. Residents bring all their food waste to the recycling center, even bones, shells, and meat that are not good for backyard composting. Participants pay $25 for a kit which includes collection bins and compostable bags. According to the SAB, the pilot program already has 200 participants. The food scraps are taken to a commercial composting facility in Ulster County, but with more towns starting food waste collection programs, the hope is that Westchester County will open its own municipal compost facility.

Take it Or Leave It Shed

Locals can donate usable household items for others to take and reuse at the volunteer-run shed. Residents also frequent Facebook as a way to post and advertise donated or on-sale items.

Despite the efforts, various residents expressed confusion. Susan Oliver told the Inside Press,“I spend way too much time figuring out the new regulations which are posted on my refrigerator.”

Yet Diane Langham Bernstein noted that “for the first time in years, I had a full trash container and my recycling ones were half of what they used to be.” The criticism seems to revolve around specifics that can be hard to understand or confusing. Take wax paper boxes. “Is that considered “coated cardboard” and therefore trash?” wondered local resident Susan Oliver.

As we approach Earth Day on April 22nd, the town wishes to continue raising awareness about these new recycling policies, making New Castle an example for other communities to follow.

Be a Recycling Champ …

1. Separate bottles, cans, glass and plastics #1-#6 from cardboard and paper.

2. Make sure all recycled goods are separated and ready for curbside pickup.

3. Refer to the town’s recycling schedule.

4. Consider joining the food-scrap recycling program.

5. Put extra reusable bags in your car, for when you go to the store.

6. Many supermarkets have machines, in which patrons can dispose bottles in return for a small payment.

7. Bring reusable water bottles, hot beverage and food containers to school or work to avoid the need to recycle.

North Castle Considers Plastic Bag Ban

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On April 22nd, towns and cities across the world will be celebrating the 49th anniversary of Earth Day. As Earth Day approaches, communities pause and take into account the environmental impact of their actions. One such focus is the use of plastics in society and the ramifications it has on the world around us. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, it takes 100-400 years for plastics to break down in a landfill. Many municipalities have targeted one specific area–plastic bags. Single-use, disposable plastics bags are a major source of litter and pollution in our environment as they do not biodegrade and are extremely difficult to recycle.

New Castle, Larchmont, Mamaroneck and Rye are all Westchester towns that have passed laws prohibiting the use of plastic bags. North Castle is now evaluating similar legislation regarding the banning of plastic bags in retail stores. Two prominent figures who are spearheading the movement for this ban are North Castle residents, Linda Trummer-Napolitano and Beth Pollack.

“We launched a BYOB campaign a few years back to encourage residents to bring their own reusable bags wherever they shop. We are in an active period of gathering signatures on a petition from residents who support legislation that restricts single plastic carry out bags and imposes a fee on other carry out bags modeled after the New Castle law.”

New Castle passed its Reusable Bag Law on January 1, 2017 with the objective of reducing plastic bag usage. The law only applies to retail transactions and its goal is to ban the use of single-use plastic bags.  Certain establishments such as grocery, convenience stores and pharmacies are required to charge 10 cents for paper bags. Restaurants, delis, boutiques and liquor stores are exempt from the fee. When deciding how to enforce the law, the New Castle Sustainability Board decided it would rely on reports from consumers and merchants to identify businesses that were not in compliance.

“Our goal is to find a solution that will work in North Castle without causing hardship to anyone. We are a long way from proposing any legislation but we think momentum is on our side.”

Inside Armonk interviewed local North Castle residents about their views on this important issue.  “I think eventually the town should ban the plastic bags. The negative impact it has on the environment is obvious,” says local resident Michael Aberman. “There needs to be a more gradual change to the issue because this is not like other issues.” He then goes on to talk about implementing a tax on plastic bags, much like they do in New Castle. “I think there could be a ten-cent tax to the bags which could incentivize customers to bring their own.”

Some have questioned whether imposing a tax on plastic bags would hurt business owners. However, research from around the region has provided evidence that the long-term effects on stores are very positive. Two studies conducted by Fairfield University one year after Westport, CT passed its law shows a significant increase in reusable bag rates (approximately 50 percent) at the Westport Stop and Shop.

“In DeCicco’s, they shouldn’t ban grocery bags, but for other small stores they should,” states Armonk resident Rianna Rabinowitz. “I wouldn’t think twice about using a paper bag or plastic bag in a large store like DeCicco’s.” Many Armonk residents appear in support of banning plastic bags or imposing a ten cent charge. When asked about whether North Castle should ban plastic bags, Armonk resident Blake Rosen stated, “They should ban it where it is necessary. I know that some states charge ten cents a bag and I think that could be effective in Armonk.”

According to Napolitano, “We believe that many North Castle residents are supportive of a reusable bag or BYOB bill because they recognize the perils that plastic bags pose to our wildlife and the environment.” The Armonk Chamber of Commerce supports the BOYB campaign. She further states that the best solution to this problem is to create legislation.

Reusable Bag Art Exposition

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ReusableBags-don'tforgetBy Meaghan Townsend

Looking for a great way to have fun, support the environment and get involved in the New Castle community? Come to the Chappaqua train station on Saturday, May 31st from 9a.m.-1p.m. for a morning of fun and eye-opening entertainment! For the first time, Horace Greeley’s environmental club, S.T.O.P. (Students and Teachers for Our Planet) will be hosting an exciting new art expo. This expo will not only be demonstrating the negative impact of single-use bags, but also supporting the movement to transition to more environmentally-friendly reusable ones.

At the expo, you’ll have the opportunity to learn and see firsthand the drastic impact plastic and paper bags continue to have on Chappaqua in a unique, interactive way with activities for the whole family. For example, did you know that Chappaqua alone uses 10,080 plastic bags every day? That’s seven bags a minute! These bags pollute our ecosystems and waste valuable resources. You might think that paper bags are a viable solution. But were you familiar with the fact that more than 60% of paper bags end up in landfills?

Because most single-use paper bags are non-biodegradable, they don’t decay for thousands of years–filling up our landfills just as much as plastic bags. And the small percentage of paper bags that are biodegradable release substantial amounts of methane gases, which contributes to global warming.

In addition, the extensive energy required to process the few paper bags that make it into the recycling bin makes the whole procedure overwhelmingly wasteful. Clearly, the longer we continue to use single-use bags, the more they will accumulate–and the harder it will be to get back on track.

The good news is that reusable bags are a simple and efficient solution to this problem. Stores have the opportunity to make extra revenue by selling reusable bags to customers. Customers can also receive special discounts for using their own bags. Evidently, the switch to reusable bags is the logical next step for New Castle.

Come show your support at the art expo! Held at the same time and location as the thriving Chappaqua Farmers Market, this event is a convenient, delicious way to support local businesses as well as the environment. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to contribute to our planet and community while sharing a fun day with your family. Let’s make New Castle a better place!

Green Initiatives: Plastic Bag Ban & Solar Permit Reform Considered

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RecycleBinSaplingThis new year heralds a series of environmental initiatives under consideration by New Castle town officials.

Several ideas are being generated by a key environmental group in town–the Sustainability Advisory Board. This all volunteer group is comprised of several New Castle residents. Its chair, Steven Wolk, explained that they try to find ways to help New Castle become more sustainable. These include proposals to:

• Ban most plastic bags in stores.

Communities that already have bag bans, according to Wolk, include San Francisco and Rye. The underlying reasons for doing so include the impact single-use bags on the environment, such as sewer clogging and pollution of water bodies. Wolk also explained that both the manufacture and transport of plastic bags takes an enormous amount of energy. The bag ban would allow for some exceptions, he added, such as  dry cleaning bags and bags that are used for fruits and vegetables. The goal is to implement the ban in a way that resonates positively for residents and businesses, Wolk explained. It is expected that the proposed ban will be presented to the town board before this summer.

 • Adopt what is called uniform solar permitting. 

This means that New Castle could have the same permitting type for solar installation that is used elsewhere. The benefit of uniform permitting, according to Wolk, include a reduction of the cost of installation, which in turn would lead to a reduction of the cost for solar in general.  The permitting proposal could be presented to the town board by this spring.

• Increase New Castle’s recycling rate.

Currently, about 24 percent of the waste in town is recycled, Wolk says. He believes that the figure could rise to 60 percent or more, a level that he feels could have a positive effect on the environment. A higher rate of recycling means saving tens of thousands of dollars, according to an estimate the board cites. By recycling, Wolk believes, people can have a social impact.

• Begin an educational initiative for community residents. 

The goal would be to drive home the importance of being sustainable and how to become more sustainable. Several ideas are being considered, including screening videos at the Chappaqua Library for the public and holding discussions right after.

During his interview for this story, Wolk brought up three pillars of sustainability. These include promoting social interests, trying to become more environmentally conscientious, and ensuring a bright economic future.

Within the board, members act as managers for the initiatives, according to Wolk. He holds the role for the solar permitting proposal, while Nicole Lewinter has it for the plastic bag ban. Board member Dick Goldsmith is the manager for the recycling initiative while the educational initiative is being led by Maxine Margo. The board could use volunteers, Wolk explained, and it is “absolutely recruiting.”

In an interview, Supervisor Robert Greenstein described environmental ideas that he is interested in. One initiative would be to have pails located downtown that have the option for recycling. These containers could include merchant sponsorship, which would be noted with plaques. The supervisor would also like for them to be classy and is interested in getting the beautification committee involved.

Aside from desired initiatives, changes are already set for 2014. New Castle’s website lists several enhanced recycling items that have been added for this year. They include waxed coated containers (such as for ice cream, butter, juice, milk and frozen foods), plastic bags with the numbers one to seven, and aseptic box containers that have broth, soup or juice. Residents can also take advantage of New Castle’s recycling center. It is located at 210 Hunts Lane in Chappaqua and is open between Wednesday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and again from noon to 2:30 p.m.

Tom Auchterlonie is the former local editor of the Chappaqua-Mount Kisco Patch.