Breaking: Long Beach Recycling to Change in only 12 Days on 1/1/2021

Why doesn’t anyone know?

 

 

 

In the fall of 2019, we knew that City of Long Beach Recycling would soon change and become more complicated during the City’s 10-year Waste Management Plan hearing process. We thank everyone who got involved, attended, and helped get answers from the city and the contractor. You can see our filed comments on the plan here. 
There, we pushed for maximum communication from the city, and city officials promised they would educate residents many months before the recycling contract ran out on 12/31/2020. We supported their efforts to win public education matching grant funding, which they have been granted.  We know its a tough year, and here is what is happening:

Recycling will change in Long Beach… in just 12 days- during a pandemic, over holiday time with still no notice from the city to residents.

We had been waiting for details but can no longer wait to let you know – it will be very difficult to educate the public, and time is running out!

We spoke to the city 3 weeks ago to offer support and help to assure success of any new program rollout. We asked it be announced at tree and menorah lightings and any other city events to get word out. The City of Long Beach must do better on public communication for this to succeed!  Though the city has not released details as yet, the basic new program we were told will be:
Dual stream(all still to be confirmed):
  1. paper products must be separated for one pickup; and
  2. other items together in another pickup (status of glass not confirmed).
    1. We commend the city who told us they are still PICKING THEM BOTH UP WEEKLY ON THE SAME DAY AS EACH OTHER, WITH TWO SEPARATE TRUCKS. This is huge to keep the items from building up, from getting trashed, and/or from blowing away to become pollution!
    2. This MAY require recycling pickup dates to CHANGE, as they may break up the citywide pickup into smaller areas, each with it’s own pickup day (awaiting details).
  3. there likely will be other new instructions, restrictions, changes, and exclusions that we are not yet aware of, that could complicate public education and a smooth transition
  4. residents could more easily make the change if given the info and time, and we are disappointed that although they said they had a plan, written instructions, and everything ready to go for weeks, and after a two week delay on voting the measure in, that there is still no release of this information to the public.
Lack of … time, public awareness, acceptance, and education will lead to a difficult launch on January 1, and could lead to a potential backlash against the concept of recycling, as well as recyclables mistakenly blown away into the environment, which is why we have ardently advocated to AVOID miscommunication!  In other places, the same process played out over last year’s holiday season, when it is so difficult to get people’s attention. Predictably, it did not go well.   see- Residents criticize rollout of Valley Stream recycling program. Rocky start for dual-stream?
Valley Stream Village officials held a presentation, got a front-page Herald article, used social media, sent robocalls and flyers mailed to homes, plus other communications. It wasn’t enough. Hundreds of complaints came in and confusion went on for weeks. We asked the City of Long Beach to please avoid this mistake with clear communication. With COVID and cancelled City Council meetings, we understand it has been difficult to turn the information around. Still, it is 4 days since the council approved the change and nothing has been done.
We agree with leaders in Valley Stream and Long Beach that solving the materials waste and recycling crisis needs to be a priority on the STATEWIDE LEVEL. The separate small municipalities, who are each responsible for their own waste removal, cannot address the “big picture” issues alone, when they are all governed by statewide law.
Our Zero Single Use campaign rolls out in the coming weeks, which will address the underlying issues causing our materials and recycling problems.
If you would like to be part of that volunteer team or to help get word out about the new recycling changes in Long Beach- please sign up here for more detailed information as it becomes available.
All Our Energy stand ready to help Long Beach maintain a robust recycling program, with maximum participation and awareness, to best protect our environment, and stand ready to help the program succeed.
To do so, the City must communicate now!

Media Reports from 2018

Wow its been a busy year. We’ve done so much with your help, the help of our core team, and over 30 volunteers!

Here’s some of the news we made this year, and a few we were mentioned in, too

Giving ‘BYOB’ a new meaning in Sea Cliff

Campaign to curb plastic bag use under way in Rockville Centre (RVC Herald)

Village passes ‘bring your own bag’ law (Sea Cliff Herald)

Sea Cliff approves ban on carry-out plastic bags in stores (Newsday)

Environmentalists urge Nassau to consider plastic bag fee (News 12)

Earth Day celebration calls for community engagement (Hofstra Chronicle)

All Our Energy Plastic Free July Project: Blog Posts

Rockville Centre discussion highlights local plastic pollution awareness campaign (RVC Herald)

Push to end plastic bag pollution in Rockville Centre continues (RVC Herald)

MLK Center hosts annual Thanksgiving dinner (Long Beach Herald-mention)

Single-use plastics ban passes in Sea Cliff (Sea Cliff Herald-Mention)



Letters to The Editor from our team:

Why is Nassau waiting on bag fee? (By Shelley Goldman)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Susan Brockmann

 

And one article with no online version-Long Beach Herald.

A Bag Law We Just Can’t Support

You may have heard the Village of Atlantic Beach, NY passed an anti-plastic-bag law last week.

You might be surprised to hear we are not cheering. It calls for a ban on all except “biodegradable” checkout bags.

We’re sure the Village are well intended. It sounds great… except there is actually no such thing as biodegradable plastic, at least not as you might reasonably expect the word “biodegradable” to mean

This will cause more problems than it solves.

We honor the heartfelt campaign from locals Kevin Kelley and others for a fee or ban on all checkout bags. This “bio” option sounds good on the surface, until you think it through. You then realize it creates unintended consequences and eliminates little single use waste from going into our environment.

Why isn’t it good policy?

Merchants complying with it who care about the viability of, or prefer to avoid confrontation over “biodegradable” plastic bags will likely go to paper, which is worse for the environment overall, except that it biodegrades. It leaves them few good options and puts the problem on them.

Paper will bring merchants’ cost for a bag from 2-3 cents to 12-25 cents. These costs will be passed on to everyone, drastically increasing the current >hidden< bag tax. All shoppers pay, so some can take bags they’re going to throw away.

Increasing merchant costs like this creates financial incentive to not comply with the law. Instead, had they instituted a fee it would reimburse them ONLY for bags used, which people pay for as they take them. Capitalists used to call this “purchasing them” which is what happens under a mandatory fee for all bags. No one loses their freedom of choice. Some devout capitalists insist they’re entitled to a “free” bag everyone else pays for- go figure! The fee simply covers the merchant’s costs of storing and supplying the bag and administering the process as a partner in making a cleaner environment. To make it their problem is bad policy.

From our laypersons “legal” view, based on policy and what hasn’t worked elsewhere, this law provides no definition of “biodegradeable” which the Federal Trade Commission says cannot be used to market plastic materials. At best, it invites debate at the point of sale, skirting the law on the grounds of free speech as to what one might assert “biodegradable” means, or at worst, lawsuits from vested industry interests a small village may not withstand that would vacate the law and cost them to fight.

Bio-debateable.

I’m sure when you hear “biodegradable” any rational person would think that means it just “poof” melts(?) away and harmlessly disappears? Reality is, it just doesn’t. It’s greenwashing to present it as harmless or as a solution to plastic pollution.

From plasticbaglaws.org this week:

According to the FTC, the term #biodegradable can’t be used to market #plastic. It’s inherently misleading to customers because it has no commonly accepted test or definition. #Amazon⁠⁠ just settled a lawsuit & will stop selling those bags. #greenwashing☹️

https://resource-recycling.com/plastics/2018/08/15/amazon-settles-biodegradable-claims-case/

Key things to think about “biodegradable”:

  • How long does that breakdown take?
  • Where does that bag go during that time?
  • If it’s fast, or when it gets wet, what happens to a bag full of groceries in the rain?
  • What does it require the user to do (ie: bring to a special biodegrading facility)?
  • Must bag users separately sort it for a special “bio /composting” pickup (which our municipalities do not have)?
  • Will they just be thrown out if included in recycling? (yes)
  • Does it break down in landfill or must it be exposed to air, sun, and/or water (and blow around in the meantime? -most need that). What are you supposed to do, put them on a clothes line to turn into goo?
  • “..’bio-plastics’ fail to fully biodegrade in the natural environment, as they require processing by an industrial composting facility. A study by the 5 Gyres Institute that tested biodegradability in aquatic conditions shows that bio-plastic straws made from PLA (a plant-based plastic) did not substantially degrade in a 24-month time period at sea” (5Gyres, 2017). https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5522e85be4b0b65a7c78ac96/t/5acbd346562fa79982b268fc/1523307375028/5Gyres_BANlist2.pdf

The Solution

Once you realize there is no “away”, you cannot really solve any of those problems with a “throwaway” bag of another material. So the best policy also reduces non-plastic alternatives as well, and the solution pushes towards that goal. A fee or ban or both on ALL bags is key to promote the goal: to remove the opportunity for needless items to become pollution and for everyone to bring your own bag, instead.

The Village seem to have their heart in the right place. They also seem to have simultaneously ignored what nearly every environmental organization or good public policy group proposes based on what works elsewhere, sound policy, and scientific data. It concerns us why they came up with this novel idea instead. Is there a new “biodegradable bag lobby” or companies pitching this “solution” to municipalities without discussing all the issues involved? We hope not.

Of course, you can avoid all this yourself. Just bring your own bag Atlantic Beach – we know you got this!!

And the rest of you, too!

Beneath the Surface: Plastic Pollution presentation July 30, 2018

Beneath the Surface

As Part of Plastic Free July, All Our Energy’s Bring Your Own Bag team welcome this presentation featuring Rob DiGiovanni, founder and chief scientist at Atlantic Marine Conservation Society. Come learn about our local marine environment and how it is negatively impacted by marine debris. Marine debris, such as littered items like straws and plastic water bottles, “ghost” fishing gear, and any other foreign objects just don’t belong in these natural marine ecosystems. Come learn about the detriments of marine debris, and how you can help us save marine wildlife by monitoring our beaches! Presented in partnership with Center for Science Teaching and Learning, Sierra Club LI Group, and Long Island Community Foundation

Center for Science Teaching and Learning
Tanglewood Preserve
1450 Tanglewood Rd,
Rockville Centre, NY 11570

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/193565337897284/

Rockville Centre Bag It Screening July 23, 2018

As part of Plastic Free July, All Our Energy’s Bring Your Own Bag team present a free screening of the award winning, light-hearted, and funny movie “Bag It”. Come find out if your life is a little too plastic!

Rockville Centre Recreation Center
111 N Oceanside Rd,
Rockville Centre, New York 11570

rsvp: https://www.facebook.com/events/244832782764410/

Point Lookout Beach Clean Up July 14, 2018

unnamed1
We’re teaming up with the Town of Hempstead Dept of Conservation and Waterways for this event. It’s Piping Plover season, an endangered bird that nests on our beach. Because they are protected, the town cannot use their machinery to clean up the beach during this nesting season time. So, we’re going to do a manual beach clean up to get keep things tidy, and keep the trash where it belongs, and not on our beach, where it also poses danger for those birds, and all other wildlife as well. All ages welcome with adult supervision.

Please bring your reusable water bottle to stay hydrated!

Point Lookout Town Park
1300 Lido Blvd
Point Lookout, NY 11569

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/2150085925210180/

Plastic Free July Continues

platic free july
Over 20 people have volunteered so far to share their stories and tips on our blog website.
How is your Plastic Free July going? It’s HARD! but so worth it. Our incredible volunteers are sharing their stories to help others find ways they too can be plastic free for July.. and every day.
Check out the corrected link here: liplasticfreejuly2018.wordpress.com/blog

Already a post every day so far, from Diana Ihmann, Randall Sorscher, Karin Johnson, Shelley Goldman, Jayne Paskoff, Gordon Howard, Marion Flomehaft and Nancy Levy.. so far!

What’s your story? What are your tips? Will you join our local edition of the international event and give up single-use plastic this July?

Here are our Plastic Free July events (see other posted blogs for full info):
July 14 Join the Beach Clean Up in Point Lookout
July 23 Bag It special screening at the Rockville Centre Recreation Center, and
July 30 “Beneath The Surface” event with Atlantic Marine Conservation Society in association with event hosts Center for Science Teaching and Learning at Tanglewood Preserve, and with Sierra Club LI Group and Long Island Community Foundation.

Of course, you can share the Plastic Free July Facebook event here.

 

Beach Clean Up – Point Lookout Town Park – July 14, 2018

Beach clean up
We’re teaming up with the Town of Hempstead Dept of Conservation and Waterways for this event. It’s Piping Plover season, an endangered bird that nests on our beach. Because they are protected, the town cannot use their machinery to clean up the beach during this nesting season time. So, we’re going to do a manual beach clean up to get keep things tidy, and keep the trash where it belongs, and not on our beach, where it also poses danger for those birds, and all other wildlife as well. All ages welcome with adult supervision.

Please bring your reusable water bottle to stay hydrated!

Point Lookout Town Park
1300 Lido Blvd
Point Lookout, NY 11569

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/2150085925210180/

Bag It – South Hempstead June 13, 2018

Bag It S. Hempstead
The South Hempstead Civic Association hosts All Our Energy’s Bring Your Own Bag Nassau campaign for a free public screening of the light-hearted and funny, award-winning film Bag It. Come find out of your life is too plastic (hint- it totally is!)

South Hempstead Firehouse
555 May St,
South Hempstead, NY 11550

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/939462472881755/

We made the news, and the editorial board agrees

newspaper
Our team member and Lynbrook team leader, Susan is helping residents realize just how much plastic bag pollution each person creates in a year. There’s a Nassau proposal to deal with that waste but it’s not even being allowed to be discussed. Does your County Legislator know how YOU feel about it? If not, you need to tell them it’s time to eliminate needless single use checkout bag pollution. It’s easy- just Bring Your Own Bag Nassau.

In response, all editions of the LI Herald ran an editorial this week in favor of action on checkout bag pollution!  Click that link to read it.