Ari Silver
Making Sense of the New Recycling Rules
March 8, 2019 by Ari Silver
On January 1st, the Town of New Castle released new regulations regarding standards for recycling. Previously the United States used to export much of its recycling waste to China. Unfortunately, China recently stopped taking this foreign recycling waste. The new "Dual Stream Recycling" policy supports the town of New Castle's goal of recycling as much as possible, while reducing recycling fees. Inside Press asked Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein to help clarify the new regulations. He offered the following tips:
1. Separate recycling into cardboards and papers or plastics and glass.This way, the materials are easier and cheaper to process once received.
2. Clean plastics and glass recyclables of food residue, or the entire load can become contaminated and therefore will be treated as trash.
3. Throw out pizza boxes, as most have food residue and grease that contaminate the paper and cardboard.
4. Don't put recyclables in plastic bags because the bags jam the processing machinery. Reuse plastic bags and take them to stores that recycle.
These changes help make the entire recycling process more efficient and less costly, he said.
Michael Cicale, New Castle's Recycling Center Foreman, explained that recycling is a "for-profit" business and the new rules were implemented to help ease the process of receiving recyclables. He further stated that many recyclable items end up being thrown out due to a high contamination rate.
Residents on 'Chappaqua Moms,' an online forum for community members, discussed the new regulations. Diane Bernstein said she has found ways to donate and reuse goods that cannot be recycled and would otherwise have to be thrown away. For example, Bernstein collects empty and clean medicine bottles for an organization that distributes them in Africa to people who cannot afford these containers, which are needed to keep pills safe from moisture and away from small children.
The Problem with 'Wishful Recycling'
In a joint statement, Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB) members Kathy Schreiber and Jennifer Mebes Flagg told the Inside Press: "The SAB is working with the Town on continued education efforts to help residents understand the new rules and curtail "wishful recycling" which is when people put things in recycling bins they hope are recyclable or think should be recyclable.
Unfortunately, wishful recycling contaminates recycling collections, turning the entire load into garbage while increasing processing costs." The new regulations, they insist, increase people's awareness about how recycling works, and reduce the town's costs.
Ongoing efforts to reduce waste town-wide include the Town's Food Scrap Recycling Program. Residents bring all their food waste to the recycling center, even bones, shells, and meat that are not good for backyard composting. Participants pay $25 for a kit which includes collection bins and compostable bags. According to the SAB, the pilot program already has 200 participants. The food scraps are taken to a commercial composting facility in Ulster County, but with more towns starting food waste collection programs, the hope is that Westchester County will open its own municipal compost facility.
Take it Or Leave It Shed
Locals can donate usable household items for others to take and reuse at the volunteer-run shed. Residents also frequent Facebook as a way to post and advertise donated or on-sale items.
Despite the efforts, various residents expressed confusion. Susan Oliver told the Inside Press,"I spend way too much time figuring out the new regulations which are posted on my refrigerator."
Yet Diane Langham Bernstein noted that "for the first time in years, I had a full trash container and my recycling ones were half of what they used to be." The criticism seems to revolve around specifics that can be hard to understand or confusing. Take wax paper boxes. "Is that considered "coated cardboard" and therefore trash?" wondered local resident Susan Oliver.
As we approach Earth Day on April 22nd, the town wishes to continue raising awareness about these new recycling policies, making New Castle an example for other communities to follow.
Be a Recycling Champ …
1. Separate bottles, cans, glass and plastics #1-#6 from cardboard and paper.
2. Make sure all recycled goods are separated and ready for curbside pickup.
3. Refer to the town's recycling schedule.
4. Consider joining the food-scrap recycling program.
5. Put extra reusable bags in your car, for when you go to the store.
6. Many supermarkets have machines, in which patrons can dispose bottles in return for a small payment.
7. Bring reusable water bottles, hot beverage and food containers to school or work to avoid the need to recycle.
Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: china, environmental safety, New Castle, new rules, plastic, Recycle, recycling rules
A March for Kids, Planned by Kids
April 19, 2018 by Ari Silver
On March 24th, approximately 850,000 students and adults took to the streets of Washington, DC., with other "sibling marches" taking place across the country, including locally in White Plains. This event, which was appropriately titled "March For Our Lives," was completely organized by Parkland, Florida students, including Emma Gonzalez, David Hogg and Cameron Kasky.
These teens have become the most outspoken supporters of the gun control movement since the February 14th shooting at their high school. Other notable figures also took part in and financially supported event. The march gathered international attention, was widely covered by the media, and received praise from leaders around the world.
(L-R): Jake Mikesell, Ari Silver, Maxwell Keilles
As plans for the march came together, I spoke with some friends from Greeley and we decided that we were not doing enough to help. So in the early morning hours of March 24th, we boarded a bus at Congregation Kol Ami in White Plains to travel to Washington D.C. We arrived in D.C. at around 11 a.m., but the ride itself was particularly emotional for me because I was able to sit for the first time and reflect on what had unfolded over the last month.
As we approached the parking lot at RFK Stadium, we were swarmed by hundreds of busses filled with marchers of all ages. Once parked, we trekked towards the city with homemade banners in hand. Everywhere we walked, the surrounding community had opened their doors to offer food and support to the thousands of protesters who had come from around the country. As we walked, we took in the beauty of the city and the blooming flowers and finally arrived to the sight of the Capitol Building. I was overcome with emotion as I fully recognized the importance of the day.
Horace Greeley junior Maxwell Keilles shared his thoughts on the event. "The march was one of the most important things I feel that I've done and I felt great that I was able to hear such inspiring speeches from so many wonderful people." Another Greeley junior, Jake Mikesell commented, "I chose to attend the march because I am a high school student and hearing about mass school shootings and students my age dying is horrific and should be stopped. Gun reform should be much stricter so that schools can be safer."
Musicians & Moments of Silence
Shortly after our arrival the event commenced. Multiple musicians performed, including Lin-Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame and Ben Platt from Dear Evan Hansen. The two had come together to perform a song that they had written for the event. Shortly after, students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School delivered heartfelt speeches. The most notable was Emma Gonzalez's, who held a six-minute moment of silence. The six minutes represented the amount of time it took for the shooter, Nikolas Cruz to kill 17 people in Parkland. Throughout the moment of silence, the crowd yelled "never again" in perfect unison. Other teens and kids who had been directly affected by gun violence also spoke to the large crowd. It was unlike anything I had ever witnessed.
Gun Control Takes the National Spotlight
While students take to the streets in a call for action, lawmakers in Washington are looking at ways they can change our nation's laws for the better. According to Politico, polls show that support for greater gun restrictions has risen dramatically since the Parkland shooting. Still, most politicians who receive funds from the NRA, refuse to deny such politically motivated payments, which has caused public outrage. The already serious issue has caused much polarization.
The events that unfolded on March 24th are not the end of this movement, they are only the beginning. Students plan on organizing numerous events and walkouts to help spread the message that "enough is enough" and that it is time to take action. These events are taking place during an important year, as the midterm elections are set to take place this fall.
Walkouts have already been planned for April 20th, which is the 19th anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School. Students are trying to figure out how they can be more active in their communities and local governments.
One piece of advice that Representative Nita Lowey shared during my recent meeting with her was to go out and vote. I found this message to be the most inspiring, since it is likely to have the most direct effect on the individuals who make our laws. For students who are not of voting age, I would encourage them to call their local representatives, voice their opinions and ask for support on specific legislation.
On April 20th, during National School Walkout, we will take the time to remember the lives of the 12 students and 1 teacher who were killed in Columbine High School 19 years ago. And we also keep in our minds all who have lost their lives to gun violence. While this has been an emotional and eye opening time for myself and my peers, this has been an opportunity for students and adults to find their voices and realize where they stand on this controversial issue and what we can accomplish together.
Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: activisim, Columbine High School, gun control, kids, march for our lives, National School Walkout, organize, Parkland Shootings, Student Activism
Area Teens Head South Together for an Eye Opening Civil Rights Trip
A view of the Edmund Pettus Bridge: site of the "Bloody Sunday" march
Last month high school juniors and seniors from Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester in Chappaqua and Antioch Baptist Church in Bedford Hills went on a three-day trip to the south to learn more about the civil rights movement and social justice. The leadership of both Antioch, a predominately African-American church, and Temple Beth El decided to make this trip together with the hope of sharing experiences and creating more conversations about this country's history on civil rights and continued need for equality and justice. This trip was the first of its kind for both congregations, as teens joined hand-in-hand to visit, explore, and develop an even deeper understanding of civil rights.
Trip participants in Alabama
Upon arriving in Atlanta, the teens were introduced to Mr. Billy Planer, the head of Etgar 36, the organization responsible for planning the details of the trip. Etgar 36's mission is to empower trip participants "to get involved politically and socially to create change in the world."
The first stop on the itinerary was Montgomery, Alabama. There the teens met an attorney from the Equal Justice initiative (EJI) and learned about the injustice that exists for those on death row. Students were then invited to view the result of the EJI's "Community Remembrance Project," an archive and display that contains samples of dirt from different lynching sites. As a trip participant, I found this deeply moving and a wake up call that racism was widespread, had inflicted so much pain and touched the lives of so many.
An Emotional Journey
The trip had so many different layers of history and emotion. For lunch that day, trip participants ate at a local restaurant named Martha's Place and dined on classic southern fare. The group later met Martha, the inspirational owner of the restaurant, who talked about how she bounced back from depression, suicide attempts and poverty, overcoming tremendous adversity and making a positive life for herself.
The next stop on the trip was the Rosa Parks Museum where the group learned about the bus boycotts and the use of nonviolence against violence. The group then headed to a nearby synagogue to spend Friday night Sabbath services with the local Jewish community.
Following in the Footsteps of the Bloody Sunday Marchers
The next day the group drove to Selma, where they learned about the historic march in which police and state troopers beat and used tear gas against peaceful marchers who were advocating against racial discrimination at the voting booth. Ms. Joanne Bland, an activist who marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday in 1965 met the group and talked about her experience. The group later walked towards the infamous bridge and suddenly, more than 30 students were following in the footsteps of the brave marchers who were attacked and beaten in their quest for freedom. The mood was somber and emotions were high at this pivotal moment of the trip.
Birmingham: A Hot Spot of the Civil Rights Movement
The journey continued to Birmingham, Alabama with a stop at the 16th Street Baptist Church, the site where four young girls were killed in a racially motivated bombing in 1963. After heading to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the group had the opportunity to meet Rev. Calvin Woods, a civil rights leader who was a close colleague to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Rev. Woods led the group in song and in words of healing.
The final stop of the trip was Atlanta where the group saw the AIDS Quilt and learned about the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community and the struggle for quality healthcare and education. The group then ventured to Dr. King's resting place to pay their respects and concluded the trip with Sunday services at Dr. King's historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.
An Eye Opening Experience
Max Brickman, a junior from Greeley and a member of Temple Beth El said, "The trip was a very eye-opening experience. I feel that the stories (that were told) really gave us a clear understanding of the severity and violence of segregation." Josh Agee, a senior from Greeley who attends Antioch Baptist Church explained, "The reason I decided to go on this trip is because I felt that I needed to know more about my history. I felt that what we were learning at school did not really describe the struggles of African Americans during the civil rights era, and I thought that this trip would provide a greater insight into my history.
"The trip was far beyond my expectations. Traveling to the historic sites made me truly feel blessed. Experiencing the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Martin Luther King's historic church and the Rosa Parks Museum were informational and eye opening experiences that I will never forget."
Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe from Temple Beth El commented, "My expectations for this trip were easily surpassed. I was deeply impressed by the way in which our students integrated with their counterparts from Antioch Baptist Church and the seriousness and maturity they displayed throughout the trip. Our students posed thoughtful questions and took every opportunity to soak in the learning and meaning of each site and encounter. I was slightly worried that the trip would be overly scheduled and academic, but these fears were easily assuaged and I came away inspired by the students."
A stop at the Equal Justice Initiative
Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Antioch Baptist Church, Black History Month, Bloody Sunday, civil rights, Equal Justice Initiative, history, journey, Martha's Place, teenagers, Templet Beth El of Northern Westchester, tour