NY, CT, and the Nation Deserve Clean Water

Photo by Lisa Fotios: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-drinking-glass-1346155/

Tell Congress to Invest in Clean Water Infrastructure!

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity!
Congress is currently developing next year’s federal budget while also considering a major infrastructure package. This provides our nation with a critical once-in-a-generation opportunity to finally address our long-standing clean water needs!  We have solutions to our clean water challenges, and it’s time to use them. Congress must act to:

• Upgrade sewage and drinking water systems: The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) is a program to provide support to municipalities for the construction and repair of sewage infrastructure, and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) is a program to upgrade drinking water infrastructure and ensure safe water at the tap. Congress should fund each program at $10 billion annually.

• Replace Lead Service Lines: Between 6 -10 million homes nationwide continue to receive their drinking water through lead service lines, posing a serious risk to their health and disproportionately impacting low-income households. Congress should fund the Lead Service Line Replacement Program at $4.5 billion annually, which will provide grants for the full cost of replacing lead service lines.
  

Email your U.S. Senators and Representative in the U.S. House today. Urge them to support robust funding for clean water infrastructure!

Background Information
Aging and failing sewage infrastructure discharges raw or partially sewage into local waterways, jeopardizing human health, closing beaches, harming fish and wildlife, and damaging local economies. Our drinking water infrastructure is also in need of critical upgrades, with communities facing ever-increasing water main breaks every year and continuing to rely on lead service lines that threaten public health. Our water infrastructure has been ignored for far too long, causing needed repairs to pile up due to lack of sufficient funds. As the Congress looks to address the nation’s infrastructure needs, we need to ensure clean water infrastructure is an essential component of that effort. 

The Costs of Inaction in New York, Connecticut, and the Nation: Antiquated sewage and drinking water infrastructure threatens our environment and our health, while compounding economic struggles. 

• There are an estimated 360,000 lead water service lines throughout New York (an estimated 6 -10 million homes nationwide) that pose a serious risk of leaching lead into our drinking water.

• The American Society of Civil Engineers gave NY & CT’s infrastructure poor grades (NY drinking water infrastructure: C; NY wastewater infrastructure: D; CT drinking water infrastructure: C-; CT wastewater infrastructure: D+). We deserve better!

• There are 5 overflows of raw or partially treated sewage into New York waters every day. More than 1 billion gallons of raw or partially treated sewage enter CT waterways each year.

• Between 1.8 and 3.5 million Americans become ill annually from contact with recreational waters contaminated by sewage.

Clean Water Infrastructure Needs in NY & CT
While repairing and replacing NY & CT’s clean water infrastructure is imperative, it will also be costly. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) estimates that over $36 billion is needed to repair and upgrade sewage infrastructure, while the New York State Department of Health estimates drinking water infrastructure needs exceed $38 billion. According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than $8.6 billion worth of investments are needed over the next 20 years to maintain, repair and upgrade sewage infrastructure in Connecticut.

We Need Federal Investment in Clean Water Infrastructure
The federal government’s contribution to investments in water infrastructure fell from 63% in 1977 to 9% in 2014. The lack of federal investment has left communities unable to keep up with the large maintenance costs for aging systems. Many projects get delayed, and, in other cases, the costs of large infrastructure projects are passed on to ratepayers—leading to skyrocketing water bills. In some communities, water bills have tripled over the last 10 years.

A major federal investment in water infrastructure will protect our environment, help ensure safe, clean, and affordable drinking water is available to everyone, and set the stage for economic revitalization in towns and cities across New York. 

Thank you for taking action!

Sincerely, 
Your friends at CCE

ELIMINATE TOXIC PFAS IN FOOD SERVICE PACKAGING

Photo by Christopher Williams on Unsplash

Tell House Leadership to Call S.B. 837 for a Vote Today

With fewer than three days remaining in the Connecticut legislative session, we are running out of time to eliminate PFAS chemicals in our food packaging. We urgently need your help to get legislation (S.B. 837) called for a vote in the House so we can pass this important bill into law!

S.B. 837 restricts the use of takeout containers, fast food wrappers and other food packaging treated with toxic PFAS. These “forever chemicals” persist in our bodies and our environment for decades, and they contribute to serious human health issues, including developmental impacts and certain cancers.

The bill also authorizes the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to establish a take-back program for firefighting foams that contain PFAS and contaminate our environment and drinking water sources. This legislation brings CT in line with many neighboring states and has already passed the CT State Senate unanimously.

Why we are emailing you: we need your help today!

With so many important bills and limited time left in the session, we need to call on leadership in the House to call the bill and get it passed. Please take a moment to email House Speaker Matt Ritter and ask him to ban PFAS in food packaging today.

Contact House leadership TODAY and urge them to pass S.B. 837—the  bill to ban toxic PFAS in food service packaging!

Thanks for taking action. Together we make a difference!

Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE

Honeybees must be protected, not exterminated: Support the Suffolk County Honeybee Protection Bill

Help us pass important legislation ensuring beekeepers can rescue honeybee hives before they are exterminated in Suffolk County

Honeybees are an integral component of our food web, but global populations of honeybees have declined since 2005. Massive bee die-off events and colony collapse disorder are putting our ecosystem and food production at risk. In honor of National Bee Day on May 20th, we worked with Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski to craft and introduce an important bill to prevent exterminators in Suffolk from destroying honeybee hives without first calling a beekeeper to rescue the hive!

This bill would require homeowners, pesticide applicators, and exterminators who want to address unwanted honeybee infestations first call a beekeeper, who can safely relocate the hive. To learn more about the importance of protecting honeybees and the Suffolk County honeybee protection bill, check out this video with CCE’s Adrienne Esposito and Legislator Al Krupki.

There are two important ways you can help!

1. Email your Suffolk County Legislator today and urge them to support the Honeybee Protection Bill, IR 1344-21.

2. You can also join us virtually for the Suffolk County Public Hearing on the Honeybee Protection Bill and submit supportive comments. Details for the public hearing:
   
   Date: Tuesday, June 8
   Time: 2:00pm
   How to Submit Public Testimony

Thank you for taking action! 

Sincerely, 
Your friends at CCE

Protect Our Pollinators!

Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay

Ban Dangerous and Unnecessary Uses of Neonic Toxic Pesticides in New York!

Pollinators, such as honeybees, beetles, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds, are essential components of our food web. Massive bee die-off events and colony collapse disorder are putting our ecosystem and food production at risk. This rise in bee deaths has been largely linked to the explosive growth in the use of neonicotinoids (A.K.A. “neonics”) and other harmful pesticides. 

Neonics are pesticides that attack the nervous system of insects. These pesticides largely added as a seed coating to plants, such as corn, wheat, and soybeans, and used as a spray for ornamental plants and turf. As a seed coating these chemicals persist and spread as the plant grows, making the entire plant toxic to bees and other pollinators. 

Neonics are also threatening New York’s waters. A 2018 U.S. Fish and Wildlife study found neonics in New York’s streams “in excess of toxicity and regulatory thresholds.” Additionally, extensive testing of New York’s surface waters by the USGS in 2016 found the neonic imidacloprid in nearly 40% of samples. Neonics are persistent in our water and environment, posing a serious threat to health and pollinators.

Corn, soy, and wheat treated seeds account for an estimated 73% of all neonics used in New York, while lawn, garden, ornamental, and turf (aka cosmetic) uses make up an additional 15%. A 2020 report by Cornell University found that neonic treated corn, soy, and wheat seeds provide "no overall net income benefits" to farmers yet pose significant risk to bees and other pollinators. Likewise, cosmetic uses posed some of the highest risk to pollinators but are easily replaced with safer alternatives. 

The Birds and Bees Protection Act (S.669B/A.7429) would ban these low benefit/high risk uses of neonics in NY. This will eliminate at least 85% - 90% of all neonics used in New York, protect water quality, and ensure we are not poisoning our birds, bees, and other pollinators with this toxic pesticide.

How You Can Help! Email NYS Senate and Assembly Leadership!

Send an email to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and tell them to pass the Birds and Bees Protection Act (S.669B/A7429) to ban neonic treated corn, soy, and wheat seeds and ban ornamental and turf neonic uses. 

Thank you! Together we can make a difference.
All of Us at CCE

Tackling Plastic Pollution in Long Island Sound

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

Webinar: Long Island’s Forever Chemical

Join us for a webinar on:

PFAS: Long Island’s Toxic “Forever Chemicals.” 

Join Citizens Campaign for the Environment for a webinar on PFAS: Long Island’s Toxic “Forever Chemicals.” The EPA’s failure to regulate PFAS is causing tremendous health and economic damage on Long Island. This important discussion will identify steps the EPA should take to regulate PFAS, so that they do not pose unintended or unreasonable risks to humans, animals, and the environment.

The webinar will feature expert panelists, including Phil Brown, University Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Health Sciences at Northeastern University; Tim Whitehouse, the Executive Director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility; Kyla Bennett, the Science Policy Director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility; and Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment. The webinar will also be moderated by Christopher Sellers, the Professor of History at Stony Brook University.

Topic: PFAS, the “Forever Chemical”
Date: Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Time: 12:00PM - 1:00PM 
Where: Zoom - click here to register today! After registering, you will receive a zoom link to participate.

Thank you for joining us!

Sincerely,
Your Friends at CCE

UPDATE CONNECTICUT’S BOTTLE BILL

Tell Lawmakers to vote “YES” on S.B. 1037

Connecticut’s container deposit law (aka “the Bottle Bill”) was enacted in 1978 and has served as a critically important recycling program—capturing billions of single-serve beverage containers for recycling, reducing pollution and litter, and saving municipalities millions in solid waste costs over time.

Unfortunately, the program is out of date and has not kept up with changing market trends and inflation. As a result, Connecticut’s redemption rate has fallen to around 49% (a 44% drop since 2001).  Instead of being recycled, more than 69,000 tons of glass, plastic and aluminum is being disposed of as solid waste every year!

The Solution: Modernize Connecticut’s Bottle Bill! Proposed legislation (S.B. 1037) would modernize the state’s existing container deposit program in 3 important ways:

1. Improve consumer convenience: Requiring bottle deposit machines in more locations across the state will make it easier for everyone to take bottles back!

2. Expand the program to cover more beverage container types: By expanding the Bottle Bill to include beverage types that have become very popular, Connecticut can virtually eliminate unsightly litter from juices, teas, sports drinks and miniature liquor bottles!

3. Raise the deposit from $.05 to $.10: States like Michigan and Oregon have a $.10 deposit and boast redemption rates of 80 - 90%! Litter from improperly discarded bottles and cans has effectively been eradicated.

Email your elected representatives TODAY and urge them to pass S.B. 1037 to Modernize the CT Bottle Bill and help combat the CT waste crisis!

Additional action: Take just 60 seconds to fill out a quick survey so we can get your feedback on the Bottle Bill!

Thanks for taking action. Together we make a difference!
Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE

Join us: How to combat pollution in Long Island Sound

Join us for a 3-week virtual workshop series:

“Long Island Sound: Driving Local Actions to Tackle Water Pollution” 

Join us for 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 3-week workshop series will bring folks from across the Sound together to learn about advancements in technology and policy that tackles our biggest water quality challenges—from fecal bacteria, nitrogen, and plastic pollution. Free and open to the public.

When: Tuesday, May 11 | 12:00pm-1:30pm | Fecal Bacteria Pollution

Wednesday May 19 | 12:00pm-1:30pm | Nitrogen Pollution

Tuesday, May 25 | 12:00pm-1:30pm | Marine Debris and Plastic Pollution

Topics: Fecal Bacteria Pollution, Nitrogen Pollution, 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

SAVE THE DATE!

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

CCE’s 2021 Environmental Equinox Awards Gala
September 30, 2021

We are currently hoping for an in-person event at The Piermont in Babylon but will be ready to pivot to virtual if COVID restrictions necessitate the change. There will be lots of scenic outside space with beautiful views of the bay! Join us to celebrate more than three decades of grassroots accomplishments and our special honorees:

Honorable Todd Kaminsky
New York State Senate 

Honorable Steve Englebright 
New York State Assembly 

CCE is honoring these environmental champions for their leadership in spearheading groundbreaking legislation to combat climate change which will lead New York towards a fossil fuel-free future, and for championing legislation that bans 1,4-dioxane from household products. 1,4-Dioxane, a probable carcinogenic, is currently found in laundry detergents, bath soaps, dish soaps, and baby products and is polluting our drinking water.    

Sponsorships are available. Please contact Maureen Murphy, Mmurphy@citizenscampaign.org or 516-390-7150 for information on sponsorships or individual tickets.

The equinox is the time of year when the sun crosses the equator, and the length of the day equals the length of the night on all parts of the earth. The equinox is a symbol of achieving environmental and societal harmony.

Thank you for your support. Together we make a difference!
Sincerely,
All of Us at CCE

Our Future is Blowing in the Wind

Join us for the next installment in our series of educational forums on offshore wind:

“Advancing Wind & Protecting Wildlife” 

Join Citizens Campaign for the Environment & New York League of Conservation Voters to learn more about how advancing offshore wind and protecting wildlife can be achieved. In 2019, NY passed the nation’s most aggressive climate law, which mandates 70% renewable energy by 2030 and 9,000MW of offshore wind by 2035. To meet these ambitious goals, New York is moving forward with several critically needed wind farms off the coast of Long Island. In this forum, expert panelists will discuss impacts to marine mammals and fish species, potential “reef effects,” and more. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask the expert panelists questions.

Topic: Advancing Wind & Protecting Wildlife
Date:  Wednesday, April 21, 2021
Time: 7:00pm -8:30pm 

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

Expert Presenters:

Dr. Howard Rosenbaum is a Senior Conservation Scientist and Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's (WCS) Ocean Giants Program, which aims to secure the future of whales, dolphins, and other marine species. For more than 30 years, Dr. Rosenbaum's innovative science has helped protect marine species from current and emerging threats in their most important habitats. In the NY Bight, Rosenbaum leads WCS’s efforts for research and conservation of marine mammals, which includes a collaborative effort to use state-of-the-art near real-time acoustic monitoring and other technologies to study whales and ocean noise.  

Dr. Drew Carey is the Chief Executive Officer for Inspire Environmental. Dr. Carey was a leader on the many of the studies regarding marine life and the Block Island Wind Project. He has published papers on potential impacts to fish and the benthic region, key lessons learned for biological monitoring, and the “reef effect” of the turbine foundations. 

Catherine Bowes is the Program Director for Offshore Wind Energy for the National Wildlife Federation. The National Wildlife Federation, America's largest conservation organization, works across the country to unite Americans from all walks of life in giving wildlife a voice. They have been on the front lines for wildlife since 1936.

Thank you for joining us!

Sincerely,
Your Friends at CCE

Join Us for a Virtual Public Forum: Save the Western Bays

Image by Daniela Dimitrova from Pixabay

Join us to get critical updates on restoring Western Bays water quality, the Bay Park Conveyance Project, and Long Beach STP Consolidation

Join Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Operation SPLASH and The Nature Conservancy for a virtual forum on restoring our Western Bays.  The forum will review the scientific need for diverting sewage from the Western Bays, provide updates on the connection of the South Shore Water Reclamation Facility (Bay Park Sewage Plant) and Long Beach Sewage Treatment Plant to an existing ocean outfall pipe at the Cedar Creek Sewage Treatment Plant, and provide an overview of upgrades that already made to South Shore WRF.  There will be a panel discussion at the end to answer your important questions!

When:   Thursday, April 8, 2021, 12:00pm -1:00pm

Speakers: Senator Todd Kaminsky

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)

Nassau County 

Adrienne Esposito, Citizens Campaign for the Environment

Carl Lobue, The Nature Conservancy 

Panel Discussion: NYS DEC, Nassau County, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Operation Splash, The Nature Conservancy and SUEZ

Register in advance to receive a zoom link

Background

The Western Bays are dying.  The science has been very clear— treated sewage effluent  entering into Reynolds Channel is choking our bays.  For over a decade, we advocated for significant upgrades to the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant and to divert the treated sewage to the ocean instead of the bay. New York State and Nassau County are advancing a monumental project known as The Bay Park Conveyance Project that will use an aqueduct under Sunrise Highway to connect the SSWRF and Long Beach Sewage Treatment Plant to an existing outfall pipe at the Cedar Creek Sewage Treatment Plant. This plan saves money and time—a win for the Western Bays and the public. 

Thank you for joining us!

Sincerely,
Your Friends at CCE

WE NEED ACTION ON NEW YORK’S SOLID WASTE CRISIS

Image by MichaelGaida from Pixabay

Hold manufacturers—not taxpayers—responsible for their waste!

New York State is suffering from a growing solid waste and recycling crisis. Recycling markets in China and elsewhere have closed their doors to the U.S., forcing us to start managing our long-standing solid waste problems. As a result, municipal recycling costs have skyrocketed, recycling rates have declined, and our environment and health are suffering from pollution.

Signs of our solid waste crisis are evident across New York:

Plastic packaging and paper recycling are in crisis: New York generates more than 17 million tons of municipal solid waste annually. An estimated 40 percent of that waste is composed of product packaging and paper products, such as plastic containers, steel cans, plastic film, glass bottles, newspaper, and cardboard. Unfortunately, less than half of this waste is being recycled properly. Instead of being recycled, much of this waste is ending up as litter in our communities, shipped to landfills, or burned in trash incinerators. 

Costs to local governments—and taxpayers—have skyrocketed: Municipalities were once getting paid for recyclables, however now, they must pay to recycle. Instead of generating revenue from recyclables, many municipalities face recycling costs in the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars per year. The increased cost for local governments to process these materials is estimated to total $80 million across NYS in 2021. Local officials are now forced to consider raising fees on residents and/or reducing the recycling services provided to their communities.

Image by flockine from Pixabay

New York’s waterways are suffering from increased plastic pollution: All too often, plastic packaging is littering our communities, ultimately making its way into our treasured rivers, lakes, bays, and ocean. Plastics do not biodegrade once they enter the environment—instead they break down into tiny pieces known as microplastics, which are frequently mistaken for food and ingested by fish and other aquatic wildlife. Recent research indicates that Lake Erie contains 381 metric tons of plastic—more than 50 times greater than the previous estimates at the surface. In NY/NJ Harbor Estuary, there are an estimated 165 million plastic particles floating in the water at any given time. In Long Island Sound coastal communities, voluntary clean ups report finding over 110,000 pounds of marine debris on beaches over the last 8 years.

Large Brands are Failing to Take Responsibility: Currently, manufacturers bear no responsibility for disposing of packaging waste they create. Large brands have externalized the cost of disposing of packaging onto our municipal recycling programs and local taxpayers.  For example, an estimated 165 billion packages are shipped in the U.S. every year, and yet companies currently bear no responsibility for managing any of this packaging waste that their businesses create.  Instead, taxpayers are shouldering the financial burden for disposal. 

The Solution to Reducing Waste and Saving Taxpayers Money: Hold Manufacturers Responsible for their Waste: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) would require manufacturers to take responsibility for their products throughout their entire product life cycle, by bearing the cost of proper recycling and responsible disposal for packaging and printed paper. Not only does this provide relief to taxpayers, but it also serves as an incentive for producers to minimize packaging materials, improve recyclability, and reduce the toxicity of their products. Packaging EPR policies have existed in Canada and the EU for decades and resulted in recycling rates upwards of 90%.

New York Must Take Action on Our Solid Waste Crisis!

Governor Cuomo and the New York State legislature can reduce waste, increase recycling, save taxpayers money, and protect our treasured waters by passing the Extender Producer Responsibility Act (S.1185A/A.5801) for packaging and paper. Take action and urge the Governor, along with your representatives in the NY Senate and Assembly, to support passage of this important legislation as soon as possible!

Thanks for taking action. Together we make a difference!

Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE

Support New York’s First Offshore Wind Farm

Urge BOEM to move forward with approval for the South Fork Wind Farm

New York is poised to be a global leader in the fight against climate change, but we cannot get there without embracing offshore wind. On the South Fork of Long Island, a projected increase in energy demand necessitates either an offshore wind farm or new fossil fuel power plant. LIPA’s approval of the South Fork Wind Farm allows for the increased energy demand to be achieved with renewable energy and not with a new fossil fuel power station.  This project will bring 130 MW of renewable energy to Long Island.

Your voice is needed! The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) released the draft Environmental Impact Statement and is set to make a decision on whether to move forward with the project by the end of the year. Dozens of studies are already completed to ensure the project is responsibly developed, mitigates potential impacts on wildlife, and protects the coastline. 

Now we need you to speak up in support of the South Fork Wind Farm.

Submit public comment to BOEM today. Urge the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to ensure the South Fork Wind Farm moves forward quickly and provides reliable, clean power to Long Island.

Thanks for taking action. Together we make a difference!

Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE

Join us for the next installment in our series of educational forums on offshore wind

New York’s Offshore Wind Projects: 
The Future is Today

New York is poised to be a leader in offshore wind. In 2019, NY passed the nation’s most aggressive climate bill, which mandates 70% renewable energy by 2030 and 9,000MW of offshore wind by 2035. To meet these ambitious goals, New York is moving forward with a series of wind farms off the coast of Long Island. In the second of three virtual forums (via zoom), offshore wind developers Orsted and Equinor will discuss the offshore wind projects they are building off Long Island. 

• Equinor is developing the Empire Wind Farm off the coast of Long Beach, which will deliver 816 MW of renewable energy to NY. Equinor was also recently selected to build two additional projects—Empire Wind 2, which will be 20 miles off the south shore of Long Island; and Beacon Wind, 50 miles off of Montauk.

• Orsted is building New York’s first offshore wind project, the South Fork Wind Farm, sited 35 miles off Montauk, as well as Sunrise Wind, which will be off Suffolk County and will deliver 880MW of power to Long Island.

Join us to learn more about these critical projects, which combined will power more than 2.4 million homes and bring us almost halfway to our goal of 9,000 MW of offshore wind in NY State.

After the presentations there will be a question and answer session with our speakers and moderator Adrienne Esposito, CCE’s Executive Director. 

Topic: New York Offshore Wind Projects
Date: Monday, February 8, 2021
Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm 

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

This is the second of three offshore wind forums. The next installment in our series, “Offshore Wind and Community Benefits” will be held in March. Date TBA.

Thank you for joining us!

Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE

ADDRESS CT’S RECYCLING AND SOLID WASTE CRISIS

Image by Ben Kerckx from Pixabay

Tell CT lawmakers to implement solutions to cut waste, increase recycling and reduce pollution

Connecticut is facing a solid waste and recycling crisis. Recycling markets in China and elsewhere have closed their doors to the U.S., forcing us to deal with our long-standing solid waste problems. As a result, municipal recycling costs have skyrocketed, recycling rates have declined, and our environment and health are suffering from pollution. 

Signs of our solid waste crisis are evident across Connecticut:

Over-reliance on trash incineration: CT is heavily dependent on outdated trash incinerators for waste disposal. Governor Lamont recently decided to end taxpayer subsidies for Hartford’s dirty and decades-old incinerator, leading to its impending closure. While this will be a win for taxpayers, our environment, and public health, it leaves CT with an increasingly urgent need for alternative solutions to sustainably manage this waste.

Costs to taxpayers have skyrocketed: Municipalities that were once getting paid for their recyclables must now pay to recycle. One example—Bridgeport went from $130,000 in income from recyclables to a projected $394,380 per year in expenses. 

Consumer packaging is creating a major solid waste problem: Consumer packaging, such as plastic trays, StyrofoamTM containers, cardboard boxes, plastic film, and other flexible packaging makes up about 41% of Connecticut’s municipal solid waste. Less than half of this packaging waste is recycled properly in CT.

Food waste: Wasted food is a serious economic, environmental, and food security problem. The overproduction, distribution, and preparation of food has led to excessive waste of usable food scraps, contributes to climate change, and perpetuates the challenges of food insecurity. 22% of CT’s solid waste stream is food waste—this equates to roughly 520,000 tons of food being thrown away each year.  

CT needs bold, transformative solutions to reduce solid waste, increase recycling, save taxpayers money, and eliminate the need for aging trash incinerators:

1. Hold Manufacturers—Not Taxpayers—Accountable for Costs: An Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law for packaging allows municipalities to shift the cost of collecting and recycling packaging waste away from taxpayers and back to the manufacturers that design and profit from these products. By holding producers accountable for these costs, EPR incentivizes the design of packaging that is more environmentally friendly and easier to recycle.

2. Modernize Connecticut’s Bottle Bill: The Bottle Bill stands as one of CT’s most successful environmental laws since the 1980’s. Unfortunately, failure to update this law has made CT the lowest performing deposit system in the world, with a redemption rate around 50% (a 37% drop from where CT was 15 years ago). Expanding the program to include non-carbonated beverages such as juices, teas, and sports drinks can increase recycling by more than 400 million containers per year. Raising the deposit from 5 to 10 cents creates a stronger incentive to recycle.

3. Expand Food Waste Collection in Connecticut: CT’s Commercial Organics Recycling law requires some large food generators (e.g. food wholesalers, supermarkets, resorts) to donate or compost their unwanted food. By expanding this law to include other large food generators such as schools, hospitals, stadiums and food courts, CT could significantly reduce food waste, while increasing composting, generating clean energy, and feeding the hungry.

Contact your representatives in the CT House and Senate TODAY and urge them to adopt sustainable solutions to Connecticut’s solid waste and recycling crisis!

Thanks for taking action. Together we make a difference!

Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE

Reduce Climate Change Emissions from the Transportation Sector

Image by Holger Stephan from Pixabay

Urge Governor Cuomo to Commit New York to the TCI Program

New York must take action to address climate pollution from the transportation sector, which accounts for more than one-third of greenhouse gas emissions (our largest source of carbon emissions). The Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) is a regional program—along with 11 neighboring states and the District of Columbia—which seeks to improve transportation, create green jobs, invest in disadvantaged communities, and reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector. 

Our outdated networks of roads, bridges, sidewalks, transit systems, and other modes of travel are plagued by problems decades in the making. These problems include congestion, delays, underfunding, inaccessibility, high costs, and pollution. This makes our day-to-day lives difficult, makes air unsafe to breathe, and contributes to the climate crisis.

TCI is an opportunity for New York to bolster the clean transportation economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a meaningful way. The TCI program will advance investment in clean vehicles and fuels, safe and affordable public transportation, equitable transportation options for disadvantaged communities, complete streets that are safe for walking and biking, and more!

New York can be a leader of the TCI program and improve the state’s transportation while helping achieve a strong and cohesive regional response to climate change. We need Governor Cuomo to commit to this important regional initiative!

Please sign on and urge Governor Cuomo to support an equitable and sustainable transformation of New York’s transportation sector by committing to TCI by the end of 2020.

Thank you for taking action!

Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE

The Future is Blowing in the Wind

Image by kie-ker from Pixabay

Join us for the first of 3 educational forums on offshore wind:

“New York Leads on Climate Change” 

New York is a leader in addressing climate change. In 2019, NY passed the nation’s most aggressive climate bill, which mandates 70% renewable energy by 2030. From Montauk to Niagara Falls, NY has already begun to transition to a renewable energy economy. 

In the first of three virtual forums (via zoom), Senator Todd Kaminsky, Assemblyman Steve Englebright, and a representative from NYSERDA will discuss this groundbreaking legislation, the work that has been initiated to meet these critical and ambitious climate goals, and the important role that offshore wind will play. 

After each presenter, there will be a question and answer session with our speakers and expert panel members, including Julie Tighe from the New York League of Conservation Voters and Joe Martens from the NY Offshore Wind Alliance. 

Topic: New York Leads on Climate Change
Date: Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Time: 12:00pm -1:00pm 

Register: https://forms.gle/37soQBZ5VUNULSon7 (after registering, you will receive a zoom link to participate)

This is the first of three offshore wind forums.  See below for additional upcoming forum topics.

January
Date: TBA
Topic: Long Island Offshore Wind Projects

February 
Date: TBA
Topic: Offshore Wind and Community Benefits

Thank you for joining us! 

Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE

Support Offshore Wind in New York

Join us for a public meeting to learn more about the Sunrise Wind Farm off of the South Shore of Long Island

Last year, Governor Cuomo signed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act into law, requiring 70% renewable energy by 2030 and 9,000MW of offshore wind by 2035. The state also approved two huge offshore wind projects, Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind, which will generate a combined 1,700MW of clean, renewable energy in NYC and Long Island. Sunrise Wind will be located at least 30 miles off the coast of Montauk and will power over half a million homes while providing green jobs for New Yorkers. Orsted and Eversource, the companies developing the Sunrise Wind Farm, are hosting a free virtual open house meeting on the project on November 16. The public will have an opportunity to provide comments, so join us and speak up in favor of offshore wind.

Join us for the Orsted/Eversource virtual meeting on the Sunrise Wind Farm to learn more about this important project. Speak up in favor of transitioning from fossil fuels to offshore wind !

When: Monday, November 16, at 6:30pm

Pre-Register for the event here.

Thank you for joining us!

Sincerely,
Your Friends at CCE

CT Residents: Concerned About PFAS Chemicals?

Attend a virtual forum on November 9th
to learn more

You are invited to attend a 1-hour virtual forum about how toxic PFAS chemicals affect our health and water, and to learn what can be done to protect your family from exposure to these toxic chemicals.

PFAS (sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals,” due to their persistence in soil and water) can be found in a variety of non-stick and water-resistant products including textiles, some food packaging, and even certain firefighting foams. PFAS chemicals build up in the body and contribute to a range of health impacts.

Attend our virtual event on Monday, November 9, from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm. The discussion will be led by CCE and feature officials from the CT Department of Public Health. Most importantly, we want to hear your questions and concerns about toxic PFAS at this interactive event!

Virtual Town Hall:

When: Monday, November 9, 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Where: Zoom Meetings https://zoom.us/j/92366018756

This event is being cosponsored by Yale University and Clean Water Action.

And don’t forget to take our public awareness survey on toxic PFAS, if you haven’t already!

Thank you for joining us. Together we make a difference!

Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE

WE NEED 60 SECONDS OF YOUR TIME! PLEASE RESPOND TO A SHORT SURVEY ON TOXIC PFAS

Attend a virtual forum on November 9th to learn more

We are working with Yale University to build public awareness about toxic PFAS chemicals and we need to hear from YOU!

PFAS (sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals,” due to their persistence in soil and water) can be found in a variety of non-stick and water-resistant products including textiles, some food packaging, and even certain firefighting foams. PFAS chemicals build up in the body and contribute to a range of health impacts.

Please take a 60-second survey! Responding to the survey is very important to us. Your answers will guide our work and help us gauge public awareness on toxic PFAS chemicals. Most of all, it helps us identify information gaps so we can better inform community members about how PFAS affects our environment and our health.

We are also hosting an educational forum on PFAS in CT drinking water sources. All respondents will receive a link inviting them to “zoom in” to this 1-hour virtual forum about how PFAS affect our health and water, and to learn what can be done to protect your family from exposure to these toxic chemicals.

Attend our virtual event on Monday, November 9, from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm. The discussion will be led by CCE and feature officials from the CT Department of Public Health. Most importantly we want to hear your questions and concerns about toxic PFAS at this interactive event!

Virtual Town Hall:

When: Monday, November 9, 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Where: Zoom (you will receive a zoom link after filling out the survey)

This event is being cosponsored by Yale University and Clean Water Action.

Thank you for joining us. Together we make a difference!

Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE