plastic

Commentary: Corporations, not communities, should be responsible for recycling packaging waste

Commentary: Corporations, not communities, should be responsible for recycling packaging waste

The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act will reduce waste and ease the burden on municipalities.

New York state generates more than 17 million tons of municipal solid waste each year, with a lackluster recycling rate below 20 percent. Instead of being recycled, much of our waste is going to landfills, being burned in incinerators, or ending up as plastic pollution in our communities and waterways. Each year companies ship billions of products, exacerbating the paper and plastic waste crisis, yet they bear no responsibility for managing the packaging waste they create.

Bill shifts reducing plastic and paper waste in New York to manufacturers

Bill shifts reducing plastic and paper waste in New York to manufacturers

A bill proposed in New York would put the onus on corporations to reduce the amount of plastic and paper packaging they use, and relieve the burden placed on local governments. The goal is to reduce the tons of garbage that ends up at landfills.

Hochul Pushes Changes to Carpet Bill, Igniting Bitter Debate Over ‘Chemical Recycling’

Hochul Pushes Changes to Carpet Bill, Igniting Bitter Debate Over ‘Chemical Recycling’

Some environmentalists say the amendments would allow unacceptable pollution. Others argue they’re missing the point.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL is seeking to rewrite sections of a carpet recycling bill in a way that critics say could open the way to controversial “chemical recycling,” leaving backers of the legislation in tense disagreement over how to respond.

NY groups, municipalities receiving millions to combat Long Island Sound pollution

NY groups, municipalities receiving millions to combat Long Island Sound pollution

The Long Island Sound — where every summer excess nitrogen pushes oxygen levels below critical thresholds — will benefit from 41 new antipollution projects, with nearly half of them earmarked for New York, according to federal, state and wildlife officials. 

Governor Hochul Announces Plan for Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve

Governor Hochul Announces Plan for Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve

Comprehensive Management Plan Provides a Guide to Protect Water Quality, Living Resources and Public Use for Years to Come

Coincides with Climate & National Estuaries Week

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the release of the 2022 Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve Comprehensive Management Plan update. The plan focuses on current priorities facing the South Shore Estuary Reserve, such as climate change, resiliency, water quality, habitat restoration and public use of the estuary. The Final 2022 Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve Comprehensive Management Plan Update is available here. This announcement coincides with National Estuaries Week and Climate Week.

South Shore Estuary Reserve Plan Spotlights Water Quality, Resiliency

South Shore Estuary Reserve Plan Spotlights Water Quality, Resiliency

The comprehensive plan is a guide to the protection of water quality for generations in the estuary, a "gem," of LI, officials say.

LONG ISLAND, NY — Environmentalists gathered Monday to applaud the 2022 Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve comprehensive management plan, which they said will protect water quality and habitat restoration, and ensure resiliency and public use, with an eye toward climate change in the years to come.

10 million clams will be seeded through increase in historic Long Island Sound funding

10 million clams will be seeded through increase in historic Long Island Sound funding

Almost $34 million will be spent to clean the beaches on Long Island Sound. Some of the money comes from the federal budget that passed last month and will be one of the largest federal investments in environmental cleanup and restoration.

Ghost Fishing, Nitrogen Pollution, Rubber Debris Targeted in Local Efforts to Clean Up the Sound

Ghost Fishing, Nitrogen Pollution, Rubber Debris Targeted in Local Efforts to Clean Up the Sound

Twenty years ago, rising water temperatures, nitrogen pollution and disease wiped out the lobster population in Long Island Sound.

Lobstermen picked up and left, in many cases leaving their traps behind.

But on the floor of the Sound, tens of thousands of traps are still working, catching the few remaining lobsters along with other species.

It’s called ghost fishing.

Walmart rolls out thicker ‘reusable’ plastic bags in response to Connecticut’s single-use plastic bag ban

Walmart rolls out thicker ‘reusable’ plastic bags in response to Connecticut’s single-use plastic bag ban

A statewide ban that took effect last week was intended to eliminate single-use plastic bags from Connecticut’s checkout counters, but in response, Walmart has begun offering thicker plastic bags.

The bags, which the retail giant bills as sustainable, reusable up to 125 times and recyclable, are not prohibited under the plastic bag ban, because of their thicker weight. The State Department of Revenue Services defines single-use checkout bags as “bags with a thickness of less than 4 mils” — the thickness of the new Walmart bags. However, environmentalists say regardless of the weight, plastic is a real threat.

Single-use plastic bags are gone for good in Connecticut. If you forget to bring your own bag to the store, there won’t be any single-use ones available

Single-use plastic bags are gone for good in Connecticut. If you forget to bring your own bag to the store, there won’t be any single-use ones available

Connecticut’s ban on single-use plastic bags took effect on July 1, and this time, those flimsy receptacles are gone for good.

If you forget to bring your own bags to the store, there’s no stack of plastic single-use ones you can get for a dime each.

Victories in New York State!

 
Image by LoveBuiltLife from Pixabay

Image by LoveBuiltLife from Pixabay

 

Legislature passes laws to protect public health and our environment

While some important bills fell short, there is a lot to celebrate about the recently concluded New York State legislative session. The following CCE priorities passed in the legislature (most still need to be signed by the Governor):

Testing drinking water for emerging contaminants: Ensures that the drinking water for 2.5 million New Yorkers that are served by small water systems test for dangerous emerging contaminants.

Banning coal tar sealcoat: Coal tar sealcoat, which contains a known carcinogen, scrapes off roads and parking lots and ends up polluting our waterways and in our homes. Safer alternatives to “beautify” asphalt are readily available.

Keeping drinking water lead-free at schools: Sets a more protective standard for lead in school drinking water and increases the frequency of testing. There is no safe level of exposure to lead, especially for our children.

Environmental Bond Act: The $3 billion bond act will protect waterways, make our communities more resilient to climate change, and create jobs. The bond act will be considered by voters on the ballot in November of 2022.

Banning small plastic toiletry bottles at hotels: Hotels in NYC alone use an estimated 27 million of these unnecessary plastic bottles every year. The plastic bottles often end up in landfills, incinerators, or in our waterways.

Protecting our health and environment from fracking fluids: Bans fluids from oil and gas development from being spread on roads or on fields. Fracking fluids contain toxic chemicals and can be radioactive.

Thank you for your support—we could not have achieved this without you!

Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE

Tackling Plastic Pollution in Long Island Sound

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Join us for the final virtual workshop:

“Long Island Sound: Driving Local Actions to Tackle Water Pollution: Marine Debris and Plastic Pollution” 

Join Long Island Sound: Driving Local Actions to Tackle Water Pollution, a collaborative workshop series advancing local actions for cleaner waters and healthy watersheds in Long Island Sound. Hear from scientists and practitioners about approaches to combat pollution and clean up coastal waters in communities around Long Island Sound.

This final workshop will bring folks from across the Sound together to learn about advancements in technology and policy that tackles our biggest water quality challenge — marine debris and plastic pollution. Hear from expert speakers like Robert A. DiGiovanni from the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, Dr. Kelsey Leonard from Shinnecock Nation, and our own Executive Director Adrienne Esposito from Citizens Campaign for the Environment! Additionally, new research on plastics in the Sound will be presented by students from Brentwood High School and Northport High School.

Date: Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Time: 12:00pm-1:30pm 

Topic: Marie Debris and Plastic Pollution
Hosts: Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Save the Sound and The Nature Conservancy; with generous support from the Long Island Sound Funders Collaborative

Register here (after registering, you will receive a zoom link to participate)

Thank you for joining us!

Sincerely,
Your Friends at CCE

New York hotels may soon have to ditch environmentally unfriendly mini toiletry bottles

New York hotels may soon have to ditch environmentally unfriendly mini toiletry bottles

ALBANY — New York lawmakers want hotels in the Empire State to get rid of single-use plastic toiletry bottles altogether.

The Democratic-led Senate is slated to vote on a measure Monday prohibiting hotels from providing small plastic bottles used for personal care products, such as shampoo, conditioner and liquid soap.

COMING UP ON OUR CALENDAR