Passing bags around, parents chatted while kids learned how to help pick up recyclables and trash. That was all a part of the EcoPel Fall Town Cleanup Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. EcoPel and high school group Pelham Eliminates Plastic worked together on the project.
EcoPel does these cleanups around Pelham, especially after Halloween, to pick up trash that ends up on the ground, in bushes and by fences.
On Saturday, people brought gloves and were ready to work by the time they got to the work area. There, every family collected one recycling bag and one trash bag for the cleanup.
“I feel good about doing this,” said Manu Naik. “Pollution is a really bad issue, and one step can change a lot.”
After volunteers got their bags and were ready to work, EcoPel members recommended places with a lot of trash for the participants to work on. Some candy-wrapper filled spots included Prospect Hill School, Shore Road, Boston Post Road, Hutchinson School, Lincoln Avenue and Wolfs Lane. In this event, there were really no rules for anyone to follow, so people went wherever they wanted to pick up trash.
“Pelham Eliminates Plastics is a student-run organization” at Pelham Memorial High School, said PEP co-founder S.J. O’Connor. “And we’ve had a bunch of events in Pelham. We’ve worked with DeCicco’s to eliminate their plastic bags. We are mostly an awareness group, and we are really trying to influence the town through education to realize the facts of their actions on the world around us and starting locally is really important. For the Halloween cleanup, it’s mostly like on Halloween people are eating their candy, it might’ve fallen out of their bag, and we’re here to clean up after that because it will end up in the ocean otherwise.”
PEP is focused on spreading awareness on single-use plastics and eliminating them throughout the Pelham community and the world. PEP, after helping DeCicco’s get rid of plastic bags, is working on the Pelham school district on their sustainability goals and lowering the amount of plastic waste that comes from the schools.
EcoPel is a group that works for a cleaner and greener environment. EcoPel, which stands for Environmental Coalition of the Pelhams, is a not-for-profit organization that focuses on all environmental problems. PEP partners with it for a lot of events, and they support each other.
About the Writer
Kiran Schwaderer, Staff Reporter
Hi! My name is Kiran Schwaderer. I am so excited to be a part of this. I am in sixth grade at the Pelham Middle School. I have done the Hutchinson Bear newspaper for two years and want to continue writing. When I have free time, I like to write, color or play outside. I can’t wait to start writing stories.
The event, which will also feature a raffle of cycling-related items, will start at 6:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased here or at The Picture House box office.
Started by bicycle tour operator Ciclismo Classico in Arlington, Mass. a decade ago, the festival is making its New York debut in Pelham. The raffle will support three nonprofit organizations that promote bicycle safety and travel on two wheels. The organizations are:
Adventure Cycling Association, which is mapping a U.S. bicycle route system and offers resources for bike travelers;
East Coast Greenway Alliance, which is creating a bike route from Maine to Florida, including a segment that passes through Pelham Manor;
Environmental Coalition of the Pelhams (EcoPel), a grassroots enviro group that supports cycling as a healthy, pollution-free form of transportation.
Among the raffle prizes are a child’s Metro bicycle with helmet, bell, and water bottle, donated by Danny’s Cycles in Pelham; a folding bicycle helmet; jewelry made from bicycle parts; and other assorted cycling gear. There will also be a basket of gift cards and goodies from local Pelham restaurants and businesses. (A complete list of raffle items and sponsors is included below.)
Sheets of 25 raffle tickets will sell for $10 and $20 each (cash or personal check only), with the more expensive tickets giving buyers a chance at the higher-priced items. Every raffle purchase includes a chance at winning a door prize.
The event also will promote Adventure Cycling’s “Bike Your Park Day,” which will take place on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. “The idea is to get out on your bike and visit a county, state, or national park,” said Karen Gardner, a life member of Adventure Cycling and Pelham resident working with The Picture House to stage the film festival. “Bike Your Park Day helps to promote local amenities, and Westchester has some wonderful parks for us to explore.” Maps and information about Westchester’s many parks will be available at the film festival.
Financial support for the bike travel film festival was provided by Westchester County Executive George Latimer.
Clayton Bushong, Director of Programming, Marketing and Theater Operations, The Picture House, 175 Wolfs Lane, Pelham, NY, 914-738-3161; clay@thepicturehouse.org
Donors contributing prizes for the fundraising raffle include: Abus, Adventure Cycling Association, Aileen Dose Licensed Massage Therapist, Amedeo Fitness, Apothecary Muse, Bangkok City, Bikeflights.com, Bike Tube, Caffe Regatta, Cantina Lobos, Charles Fazzino, Danny’s Cycles, DaHanger, Deborah Lowery, DeFeet, East Coast Greenway Alliance, E-ko-logic, Environmental Coalition of the Pelhams, Ergon, Evelyn Hill Cycling, Kryptonite, La Fontanella, Marcello’s, Morpher, Ortlieb, Planet ert, Revolution Cycle Jewelry, Sassy Cyclist, Sinewave Cycles, Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club, The Open Road Game, The Voracious Reader, Vespertine, Westchester Bike Camp, and Westchester Parks.
ABOUT THE FILMS
Whether you’re an avid cyclist or an armchair traveler, the films in this special festival offer tales of adventure that everyone can enjoy.
The festival features the USA premiere of a stunning film from Australia called Lowest to Highest. Through the boundless landscape of Australia, five friends attempt to be the first to cycle from the continent’s lowest point, Kati Thanda – Lake Eyre, a vast salt lake in the desert at 15 meters below sea level, to the highest point, the snow capped summit of Mount Kosciuszko. The 1,300+-mile journey would be hard enough for anyone. But Duncan is blind, Walter can’t breathe, Daniel can’t walk, Conrad can’t bend, and half of Paul’s body doesn’t work. What could possibly go wrong?
Another USA premiere is INARI, which shares the first bicycle travel adventures of a father and his four-year-old son under the Northern Lights in Finland. Despite its brevity – six minutes – it packs an emotional punch and was chosen as the Grand Jury Prize winner for the event.
Also notable is Escape, the story of a Montreal-based DJ called JaBig who buys a bike on a whim and decides to attempt to beat the record for the longest continuous bike ride in a single country.
ABOUT CICLISMO CLASSICO
The festival is a production of Ciclismo Classico, a community-minded company located in Arlington, MA, that has been a leader in active bicycle vacations since 1988. Ciclismo Classico offers well-crafted trips in Italy, France, Spain, Austria, and New England that are active immersions into local art, language, music, and delicious cuisine.
Through the proceeds from the film festivals, Ciclismo Classico has donated thousands of dollars to a variety of bicycle and other local charities.
ABOUT THE PICTURE HOUSE REGIONAL FILM CENTER
Since 1921, The Picture House Regional Film Center (TPH) has served as a cultural center and community hub and is the oldest, continuously running movie theater in Westchester County. Thanks to an extensive renovation and the addition of state of the art technology, TPH is also a thriving regional film center providing dynamic film and education programs to a diverse and multi-generational audience in Westchester County and beyond. In the 300-seat Main Hall and the luxurious 14-seat Screening Room, audiences see the best in new, independent, and classic cinema. TPH education programs provide students of all ages with the opportunity to learn about the art, science, and business of film. A community-based, mission-driven, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, The Picture House is located at 175 Wolfs Lane, Pelham, New York, 10803. Contact us at www.thepicturehouse.org, info@thepicturehouse.org, or (914) 738-3161.
By Melissa Grieco, Chair, Rye Sustainability Committee
Balloons are generally associated with fun and festivity. However, balloons have a dark side, as they can cause power outages and pose a serious threat to wildlife and the environment. They’re also an eyesore, marring the landscape of our beautiful communities.
Released balloons ultimately return to the earth as litter, with many ending up permanently clogging and polluting our waterways and oceans. As a coastal community, Rye (and Pelham) are part of an ecosystem that is particularly sensitive to the effects of released balloons.
WHAT’S IN A BALLOON?
Balloons are available in two varieties – latex and Mylar.
Latex: While natural latex qualifies as a biodegradable substance, balloon latex is treated with preservatives and plasticizers to guard against bacterial decomposition. It can take anywhere from six months to four years for a latex balloon to biodegrade.
Due to their bright colors, latex balloons in the ocean are often mistaken for food by marine life such as whales, dolphins, seals and sea turtles, with deadly results. Once ingested, balloons can release toxic chemicals into the blood stream and cause physical damage to wildlife by blocking the digestive tract. In addition, ribbons, tassels and strings attached to released balloons can entangle and ensnare marine animals and terrestrial wildlife.
Mylar balloons are made from mylar nylon, a material developed for use in the U.S. space program. They are not biodegradable and are often coated with a metallic finish. Their durability means that Mylar balloons that land in the ocean remain forever. As they drift, they become part of the ever-accumulating hordes of permanent trash that we find in and around Long Island Sound – and beyond. Their shiny quality also makes them particularly susceptible to being mistaken for food by marine animals.
Furthermore, the widespread use of helium to inflate balloons is contributing to the depletion of accessible helium for use in MRI scanners, fiber optics and LCD screens.
Some communities, including East Hampton, NY, have taken action to prevent the proliferation of balloon litter in the environment by banning the intentional release of balloons.
I JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN! ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES TO BALLOONS?
The good news is that the party, parade, or real estate open house can still go on without the balloons. There are a wide variety of fun, colorful, and eco-friendly alternatives to balloons, including reusable paper streamers, flags, banners, and even bubbles.
December 12, 2018 – Speaking to the crowd gathered at a workshop entitled “Confronting Climate Change: What To Expect In Our Region,” County Executive George Latimer announced the creation of a Climate Crisis Task Force tackling actions needed to reduce Westchester’s carbon footprint and make us more resilient to climate change.
Steered by Sustainability and Energy Conservation Director Peter McCartt, the Task Force led by Janet Harckham, Beth Sauerhaft and Anjali Sauthoff will be creating short-term action initiatives the County can take, while in parallel working on an updated long-term Climate Action Plan. Both of these moves will help shape Westchester’s climate future both now and going forward.
Latimer said: “Westchester County is one part of a very large puzzle in the Country – and we all must work together to make a big impact on stopping climate change. While certain levels of government might down play its impact – and even say its fiction – I don’t. We are going to fight for our climate’s future – we are going to do it together – and it starts right here at home.”
McCartt said: “I am proud of the work we are doing here in Westchester County under County Executive Latimer’s leadership. Global warming is real and we need to address our critical infrastructure to withstand rising waters on both sides of the county. Devastating storms and flood surges are going to be much more intense and frequent, we need to build resilience in addition to being proactive on long term sustainability.”
This task force joins an already extensive list of actions taken by the Latimer Administration aimed at combatting global climate change. A few of these actions include:
Entering into a Demand Response Program that eliminates the chance of brown-outs and black-outs and the subsequent need for more expensive infrastructure repairs and upgrades;
Solarizing County properties and facilities while creating energy savings and minimizing expensive and non-sustainable infrastructure construction;
Electrifying County Fleets which will result in savings on repairs and fuel costs, reducing reliance on fossil-fuels and reducing pollutants;
Expanding electronic vehicle infrastructure, creating a network of charging stations across the county.
Expanding recycling measures, including new programs for textile and food scrap recycling which minimizes waste disposal expenses including incineration;
Initiating a teleconferencing system which minimizes travel expenses as well reducing vehicle emissions; and
Installing 30,000 LED bulbs County-wide that maximizes energy savings and lowers the cost of maintenance of lighting.
THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS AT THE RYE SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE FOR COMPILING THIS LIST.
Before you toss an item in the trash, please check this list of organizations and businesses that will gladly accept your items for donation or recycling. Many will provide a tax-deductible receipt. Thank you for giving your items a second life and keeping them out of the trash.
Furniture Sharehouse. Small electronic appliances. Drop off location: Westchester County Airport Warehouse.
Renovation Angel, 275 Route 46 West, Fairfield, NJ, (973) 461-2344. They will inspect your kitchen (cabinets, counter tops, appliances, fixtures and building materials) and will arrange to have it removed by a licensed contractor if the kitchen is suitable.
The Sharing Shelf, 47 Purdy Avenue, Port Chester. Infant car seats (less than 5 years old – wash covers before donating), pack-n-plays, strollers (cleaned), new and gently used baby clothing. New only: bottles, pacifiers. (See CLOTHING for Sharing Shelf’s donation guidelines.)
Linking Handlebars, Rye – gently used bicycles a youth run not-for-profit Organization that collects and refurbishes bicycles and gives them away to underprivileged children in local area. Drop off or arrange for pick up.
My Sister’s Place, One Water Street, White Plains. New, unopened full-size toiletries for both men and women, such as: deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, body lotion, shaving cream, and razors.
Renovation Angel, 275 Route 46 West, Fairfield, NJ, (973) 461-2344. Cabinets, countertops, appliances, fixtures and building material.
CAMERAS
Rye Arts Center, 51 Milton Road, Rye. Accepts art supplies, digital cameras and tablets.
CELL PHONES AND ACCESSORIES
Apple Products. Drop off Apple products at local Apple stores or recycle online with prepaid mailing label.
Hope’s Door, Hawthorne, (914) 747-0828. Call to schedule drop off.
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Accepts any cell phone/accessories in any condition, laptops, Mp3 players, digital cameras, video game systems, chargers, accessories, cords.
Verizon Wireless, 86 Purchase Street, Rye. Trade in devices for a gift card, or choose to donate devices to HopeLine, a charity that gives survivors of domestic violence a safe, reliable way to stay in contact with vital resources in a time of crisis.
Staples, 515 Boston Post Road, Port Chester. Accepts accessories, adapters, cordless phones, trade-in eligible mobile phones.
The Sharing Shelf, 47 Purdy Avenue, Port Chester. New and gently used clothing, SHOES for infants, children and teen.
Clothing should be in clean, wearable condition ready for immediate distribution.
No used socks, underwear, hats or gloves (new is fine).
Accepts: Fall and winter clothing from July 15 – February 28 and spring and summer clothing/shoes from March 1 – July 14.
Recycling of stained or damaged clothing: Bag recyclables separately. Label bag “For Recycling”. Drop off Tuesday/Wednesday, Thursday between 9:30am-2:30pm. Do not include items for recycling in your regular donation bags.
Operation Prom. Have an old prom dress still hanging in your closet? Donate it, jewelry or bags (no shoes) to a local teen. Drop-off locations are listed in the fall/winter. Westchester Contact: Noel D’Allacco, email: Noeld@HelpPROM.org
Rye Middle School. Spring Clothing Drive
Midnight Run. Sweatshirts, sneakers and backpacks. Contact Robin Shainberg at shain92@aol.com for drop off location in Rye.
Salvation Army, 34 North Main Street, Port Chester. Clothing, furniture, household items, cars, appliances
The Golden Shoestring, 149 Larchmont Avenue, Larchmont. Gently used apparel, accessories (shoes, handbags, scarves, belts, jewelry).
Vietnam Veterans. Clothing, accessories and shoes of all types and sizes (men’s, ladies, children’s, baby’s). Pick-up service only.
Salvation Army, 34 North Main Street, Port Chester.
COMPUTERS
Westchester PC Renew. Refurbishes donated computers and distributes them to non-profit groups.
Apple Products. Drop off Apple products at local Apple stores or recycle online with prepaid mailing label.
Staples, 515 Boston Post Road, Port Chester. Accepts accessories, adapters, cables, all-in-one computers, computer speakers, desktop computers, eReaders, flash drives, gaming consoles/handhelds, GPS devices, hard drives, iPod®/Mp3 players, keyboard/mice. laptops (trade-in eligible), modems, monitors (LCD, LED, CRT), printers/multifunction devices (desktop), routers, scanners (desktop), shredders, small servers, tablets (trade-in eligible), UPS/battery, backup devices, and webcams.
ELECTRONICS
Rye Arts Center, 51 Milton Road, Rye. Accepts art supplies, digital cameras and tablets.
Music and Memory. Accepts all Apple music players in working condition. Provides prepaid shipping label. Music & Memory is a non-profit organization that brings personalized music into the lives of the elderly or infirm through digital music technology, vastly improving quality of life.
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Accepts any cell phone/accessories in any condition, laptops, Mp3 players, digital cameras, video game systems, chargers, accessories, cords.
Apple Products. Drop off Apple products at local Apple stores or recycle online with prepaid mailing label.
Staples, 515 Boston Post Road, Port Chester. Accepts accessories, adapters, cables, all-in-one computers, computer speakers, desktop computers, eReaders, flash drives, gaming consoles/handhelds, GPS devices, hard drives, iPod®/Mp3 players, keyboard/mice. laptops (trade-in eligible), modems, monitors (LCD, LED, CRT), printers/multifunction devices (desktop), routers, scanners (desktop), shredders, small servers, tablets (trade-in eligible), UPS/battery, backup devices, webcams, cable/satellite receivers, calculators, camcorders, CD/DVD/Blu-ray players, computer speakers, connected home devices, copiers (desktop), cordless phones, digital cameras, fax machines (desktop), Flash drives, mobile phones (trade-in eligible), stereo receivers, video streaming devices (Apple TV®, Roku Player, etc.).
Home Depot, Midland Avenue, Port Chester. Accepts rechargeable batteries, CFL bulbs and plastic bags for recycling. Accepts incandescent holiday lights from November to mid December for recycling.
Furniture Sharehouse. Bed frames, mattresses, dressers, tables, lamps, small electronic appliances, rugs, mirrors, artwork, TVs (less than 27” and less than 5 years old). Drop off location: Westchester County Airport Warehouse.
Salvation Army, 34 North Main Street, Port Chester. Clothing, furniture, household items, cars, appliances.
The Golden Shoestring, 149 Larchmont Avenue, Larchmont. Small furniture pieces and bric-a-brac.
Salvation Army, 34 North Main Street, Port Chester. Clothing, furniture, household items, cars, appliances.
The Golden Shoestring,149 Larchmont Avenue, Larchmont. Household, decorative items, china, crystal, glassware, kitchen items.
Hope’s Door, Hawthorne, (914) 747-0828. Gently used or new household items: dishes, microwaves, toasters, silverware, coffee pots.
Vietnam Veterans. Pick-up service only. Household items, glassware. They will take almost anything.
IPODS/MP3 PLAYERS
Music and Memory. Accepts all apple music players in working condition. Provides prepaid shipping label. Music and Memory is a non-profit organization that brings personalized music into the lives of the elderly or infirm through digital music technology, vastly improving quality of life.
Staples, 515 Boston Post Road, Port Chester. Accepts music players for recycling.
Apple Products. Drop off Apple products at local Apple stores or recycle online with prepaid mailing label.
An In-School Program:Crayola ColorCycle will accept all brands of used plastic markers, including dry erase markers and highlighters. Schools box and mail collected markers to Crayola for recycling. Crayola pays all shipping charges.
The AFYA Foundation. Collects used medical supplies to be donated to those in need. Accepts used medical equipment (wheel chairs, shower chairs, commodes, crutches, slings etc.) chucks, adult diapers, bandages, pencils, notebooks. Collections organized through Rye Rotary. Drop Off: Webster Bank, back entrance, 72 Purchase Street. Please call before dropping off: (914) 967-1679.
MIRRORS
Furniture Sharehouse. Small electronic appliances. Drop off location: Westchester County Airport Warehouse.
Mount Vernon Animal Shelters. Canned cat food, canned dog food, dog treats, cat treats, milkbones, peanut butter, bleach, laundry detergent/ powder, Pine-sol, Fabuloso, dish soap, paper towels, toilet paper, 30 gallon garbage bags.
Humane Society of Westchester, 70 Portman Rd, New Rochelle. Ziploc sandwich bags, snow shovels, pet-safe ice melt, heating pads/hot water bottles, toys, canned/dry food items, stuffed animals, peanut butter, hot dogs. (Accepts all food donations, but has a greater need for canned pet foods.)
Pet Rescue, 7 Harrison Avenue, Harrison. Dog food, dog treats, canned cat food, cat litter, kennels, cat toys, dog toys, laundry detergent, bleach.
PHARMACEUTICALS
Drop off at Rye Police Station, 21 McCullough Place. A full list of medication collection boxes in NY State can be found here.
PLASTIC BAGS
By state law, stores with 10,000 square feet or more of retail space and chains that operate five or more stores with greater than 5,000 square feet of retail space are required to provide plastic bag recycling bins. Accepted items must be clean and include:
retail bags with string ties and rigid plastic handles removed
newspaper bag
dry-cleaning bags
produce bags with all food residue removed
bread bags with all food residue removed
cereal bags with all food residue removed
plastic wrap from paper products (paper towels, toilet paper, etc.)
plastic stretch/shrink wrap with all food residue remove
plastic zipper-type bags
PLASTIC BUBBLE WRAP & PACKAGING MATERIAL
UPS Store, 222 Purchase Street, Rye. Collects plastic bubble wrap, but does not collect packaging peanuts.
RYE CITY INTERACTIVE SANITATION CALENDAR – Does everything except slice bread: You can create a personalized waste pickup calendar, schedule metal/electronics pickup, and its “what goes where” feature tells you where to donate/recycle anything. A must use for Rye residents.
RYE MOM SALES ON FACEBOOK – You can sell any type of item or offer it for free in this group. www.facebook.com/RyeMomSales
WESTCHESTER FREECYCLE – Join this group through Yahoo to offer almost anything. List your item through the group’s moderators, and a member will respond if they would like to take the item. You may only offer items for free. Visit
CRAIGSLIST – Post items for sale on Craigslist or in the “For Free” section.
Please Sign the Letter Below to encourage our BOE and Elected Officials that Sustainability is necessary as we build our schools and community for the future!
See link Below. Add your name in the comments below or email lmjoyce888@gmail.com.
Dear Pelham Board of Education, New Hutchinson School Committee, Dr. Champ:
I am sending this on behalf of a group of Pelham residents. Please see our letter attached. We would greatly appreciate if you would share the letter with the New Hutchinson School Committee members, and with the new Hutchinson School design team.
We are writing to urge the Board of Education to ensure that the new Hutchinson Elementary School building is designed and built as a modern, sustainable, and energy efficient facility that meets, at a minimum, LEED Gold or equivalent standards. We were unable to attend last night’s community meeting, but hope to attend and discuss at the upcoming September 25th BOE meeting.
As citizens of the Town of Pelham and parents of children attending school in the Pelham School District, we believe that the District has a once in a generation opportunity to demonstrate its commitment, to students and the community, by doing its part to maintain a healthy environment and to address the increasingly urgent climate change and sustainability crisis.
We urge the Board to aim for a net-zero emissions design which also moves the district toward a zero-waste future, eliminating waste from the cafeteria by including dishwashers to enable reusable dishes and utensils, as well as food scrap composting.
We believe it is critically important that the District participate in the sustainability revolution. Doing so would not only allow the District to “walk the walk” in teaching our students environmental values; it would instill in them the pride in knowing that we can work together to address environmental problems. It would also save money — because minimizing energy usage reduces energy bills.
The new Hutchinson Elementary School will operate for the next 100 years. Our hope is that it will stand as a testament to the environmentally, educationally, and economically sound thinking of the current members of the Board of Education.
We urge you to think outside the box, to set an example for future building projects, to tap into all the support and resources available to Pelham through NYSERDA and other programs such as the Zero Energy Accelerator Program, and to strive to preserve the best future for our children by building a green, sustainable, Hutchinson Elementary School.
We look forward to continued discussion on the new Hutchinson Elementary School building and how best to ensure a healthy environment and sustainable future for Pelham’s children.
Sincerely,*
Elizabeth Braun
Kristen Burke
T.K. Chang
Amy Dunkin
Dr. Heather Eliezer
Melissa Eustace
Thomas Farley
Kevin Healy
Maryanne Joyce
Matt Kaplan
Aimee Linn
Rosemary Maggiore
Lindsay Preftakes
Anna Riehl
Mark Rookwood
Ariel Spira-Cohen
Thomas White
Approximately 40% of the world’s 7.6 billion people live within 62 miles (100km) of an ocean coast. For the other 60%, some of whom may never have even seen an ocean, the seas still play a vital role in their lives.
Oil and consumer goods are moved around the world on vast ships, keeping the wheels of commerce, and vehicles, turning. Most importantly, the ocean is vital to the food chain.
Unfortunately, we collectively treat the oceans worse than most of us treat the inside of our cars. Every year, anywhere from about 8 to 12 million US tons of plastic end up in the world’s oceans.
For perspective, that’s close to three times as heavy as all the elephants on Earth combined.
The scale of the problem is enormous, but it’s not a lost cause. Just like when your dentist says you can avoid further problems with your gums if you brush better and floss often, a change in how we live could be the catalyst for cleaner oceans in the future.
Read on to learn about the true scope of the issue, why plastics in our oceans are such a problem, why we at itsafishthing.com are so concerned, and why you should be too.
We’ll finish by looking at some of the methods currently in use for ocean cleanup, what the future may hold, and what you and I can do to help put the brakes on plastic pollution.
In this season of graduations and summer celebrations, it’s a good time to think about alternatives to that most popular of party decorations: balloons.
Unfortunately, balloons are harmful to the environment on three fronts. First, just like single-use plastic bags and straws, discarded balloons – particularly those that are released into the air — make their way into the environment where they do not biodegrade.
Pieces of balloons have been found nearly everywhere – including in the digestive tracts of animals, blocking their ability to absorb nutrients and slowly killing them. The texture and color can be particularly deceiving for marine animals, which can mistake them for food.
Second, balloon strings and ribbons can prove dangerous to animals, who routinely get tangled in them.
Third, party balloons are often inflated with helium, which is not a renewable resource and has more important uses, such as in the treatment of emphysema, the production of MRI scans and the manufacturing of semiconductor chips.
Unfortunately, balloons that are not made of plastic also miss the mark. Mylar, which has become a popular material for making balloons, comes with its own environmental hazards. Made of synthetic nylon with a metallic coating, it is not biodegradable.
Also beware of the many stores and sites that market “biodegradable” latex balloons. While natural latex is biodegradable, by the time the latex is treated with chemicals, plasticizers and dyes, the final product’s biodegradability slips. During that time, these so-called biodegradable alternatives can do plenty of damage to the environment.
But EcoWise doesn’t want to be a party pooper. Fortunately, there are many festive eco-friendly alternatives. Here are just a few:
Tissue paper flowers: These are easy to make and can be created in as much variety as there are colors of tissue paper.
Pinwheels: Part of the fun of having balloons at an outdoor gathering is watching them dance in the wind. Paper pinwheels can have the same effect without the environmental hazards.
Kites: If you’re tempted to do a balloon release, think of flying kites instead. It’s another way to get that uplifting feeling – but in an eco-friendly, reusable manner.
Flags: String small paper flags across the party area and watch them flutter in the wind.
Crepe paper: Crepe paper can be used in a number of different ways, not just as streamers.
Bunting: Bunting can be made out of a number of materials, from construction paper to fabric, and it’s an interesting way to tie a party theme into whatever you create.
Plants: Flowering plants make for great décor and are a particularly wonderful alternative if party-goers can plant them afterwards.
Painted rocks: These can be placed all over the party setting, adding color and imagination.
The Internet is full of balloon-free decorating ideas that can spur your imagination. Enjoy this season of celebration, and try looking beyond balloons.
Huguenot Memorial Church went zero waste last month, which means the entire building is now recycling, reusing or composting all discarded items, from apple cores to plates, cups to paper towels.
The initiative also includes the Huguenot Nursery School and Spotlight Gymnastics, which operate out of Huguenot. “It only made sense if it was the whole campus and the whole facility,” said Lynne Dintrone, a member of Huguenot’s Building and Grounds Committee.
The Committee voted in favor of the move in early January. The organization officially shifted to zero waste on April 25 at Huguenot Cabaret, an annual fundraiser for the church’s mission work that is one of its most well-attended events of the year, drawing almost 240 people.
For Cabaret, Dintrone ordered cups that looked like plastic but were actually compostable, used the church’s reusable dishware and utensils, and strategically placed blue bins for recycling of glass and paper and green bins for cups and food scraps. A humorous sketch during the show instructed attendees on how to dispose of everything.
A successful zero waste dinner last fall for Huguenot’s youth group helped move the larger initiative forward. Associate Pastor Jacob Bolton realized then that if the church could go zero waste for a small event it could do so on a larger scale.
Huguenot received extensive guidance from Michelle Sterling and Ron Schulhof of Scarsdale, the duo who started the food scrap recycling program there and also helped make Westchester Reform Temple the first zero-waste house of worship in the county. “They were phenomenal,” Bolton said. “They held our hands through this entire thing.”
Along with giving frequent consultations, the two did a full walk-through of Huguenot’s 35,000-square-foot building to figure out how zero waste could work for a facility that size.
The biggest challenge was implementing food composting, which is not offered by garbage services in either Pelham Village or Pelham Manor. The church contracted with CRP Sanitation, which transports the material to a composting facility in Ulster County. The topsoil produced is then sold throughout the Hudson Valley.
The decision to go full-out zero waste was years in the making. In 2012, the church launched its Sustainable Huguenot campaign by converting the entire building to a geothermal heating and cooling system and later buying a refurbished organ when the old one needed to be replaced.
Also in 2012, youth group members learned how to perform an eco-audit, sorting through trash and figuring out what could be recycled, composted, and so forth; the group also performed audits for houses of worship throughout Pelham.
But the idea of becoming a zero-waste facility sprouted anew last September when Bolton and just-hired Pastor Paul Seelman attended a zero-waste event for the Hudson River Presbytery, which guides 79 regional Presbyterian congregations.
Seeleman gave the green light to move forward on a dream Bolton had held for a long time. For Huguenot, this is a major step forward in living out its faith in caring for the earth.
(Disclosure: The author is an active member of Huguenot Church.)
Don’t Throw it Away
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The scale of the problem is enormous, but it’s not a lost cause. Just like when your dentist says you can avoid further problems with your gums if you brush better and floss often, a change in how we live could be the catalyst for cleaner oceans in the future.
