plastic

Stamford prohibited plastic bags. Now city reps. are exploring a paper bag ban, too.

Stamford prohibited plastic bags. Now city reps. are exploring a paper bag ban, too.

STAMFORD — Months after speaking about possibly lifting a city requirement to charge customers 10 cents for a paper bag at checkout, members of the Board of Representatives have turned to another idea: prohibiting stores from even selling or giving out paper bags.

City Rep. Virgil de la Cruz, D-2, a deputy majority leader of the board who often advocates for measures to combat climate change, presented draft language for a potential ban on paper bags to the board’s Legislative and Rules Committee last week. But the committee decided not to advance the proposal to a public hearing yet and first conduct more research.

Sound Bites: Study finds Fire Island has poor wastewater treatment options

Sound Bites: Study finds Fire Island has poor wastewater treatment options

Good morning. The Citizens Campaign for the Environment presented findings from a study of Fire Island’s wastewater challenges to the Suffolk County Legislature this week. They say the island only has one small sewage treatment plant, forcing most residents to use septic or cesspool systems. This single plant and other aging systems contribute to harmful algal blooms, and loss of fisheries in the surrounding waterways.

Sweeping measure on packaging recycling advances in New York State Legislature

Sweeping measure on packaging recycling advances in New York State Legislature

ALBANY — The State Legislature has agreed to a deal that would require large companies in New York to significantly decrease millions of tons of packaging waste each year, including plastic packs of food, cans, detergent bottles and single-use cups and cardboard.

Fear stalks pols over cost-of-living burden

Fear stalks pols over cost-of-living burden

Fear stalks pols over cost-of-living burden

Election-year political fears of making any move that could hit New York taxpayers in the wallet proved decisive in crushing several big policy initiatives, as Albany’s annual legislative session ground to a quirky close on Saturday.

Suffolk takes step toward sales tax hike to fund sewers

Suffolk takes step toward sales tax hike to fund sewers

Suffolk County lawmakers on Tuesday moved a step closer to allowing residents to vote in a November referendum on a proposed 0.125% sales tax increase to fund a sweeping expansion of sewers and high-tech septic systems throughout the county.

SKIP THE STUFF" MOVEMENT GAINS MOMENTUM

SKIP THE STUFF" MOVEMENT GAINS MOMENTUM

With the April 19 passage of an East Hampton Village “Skip the Stuff” law phasing in a requirement for village restaurants to refrain from automatically giving out disposable cutlery and condiments, the Suffolk County Legislature and East Hampton Town are now also considering a similar proposal.

Long Island Community Foundation awards $700G to empower girls, promote social justice, more

Long Island Community Foundation awards $700G to empower girls, promote social justice, more

In its year-end distribution of charitable grants, the Long Island Community Foundation announced it had given more than $700,000 to 28 groups spanning a wide range of projects, from environmental and conservation causes to the arts to youth development.

Once Again, Legislature Kicks the Can of Litter Reduction Down Trash-Filled Road

Once Again, Legislature Kicks the Can of Litter Reduction Down Trash-Filled Road

Good luck finding a single person in Rhode Island who loves the rivers of empty bottles, cans, and random plastic pieces strewn along the state’s roads and beaches. Pose a question about litter, and you will hear that people are perfectly appalled by it, and by the state’s meager recycling rates.

EPR for packaging bill fails to pass in New York before legislative deadline

EPR for packaging bill fails to pass in New York before legislative deadline

Dive Brief:

  • A high-profile EPR for packaging bill did not pass in New York before the end of the legislative session this weekend, despite last-minute updates meant to address stakeholder concerns.

Another Voice: Our waterways and communities are drowning in plastic pollution

Another Voice: Our waterways and communities are drowning in plastic pollution

There have been misleading messages about the legislation currently being considered by the state legislature, known as the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S.4246/A.5322). The simple fact is that the proposed policy would begin to reduce plastic pollution in our Great Lakes and increase recycling, all while saving taxpayers money.

Students at Long Island Sound High School Summit share research projects to preserve 'ecological gem'

Students at Long Island Sound High School Summit share research projects to preserve 'ecological gem'

High school students from across Long Island presented research projects Tuesday on how to protect Long Island Sound for future generations, from reducing mercury pollution to protecting the waterway's marine life.

Making Every Day Earth Day at Citizens Campaign for the Environment

Making Every Day Earth Day at Citizens Campaign for the Environment

Adrienne Esposito

Earth Day is April 22, but ask Adrienne Esposito, executive director of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, and you may get a different answer. “For us,” she says,  “every day is Earth Day.” Esposito talked with us about the Earth, the environment, Earth Day and Long Island.

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. 

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