In the fall of 2019, we knew that City of Long Beach Recycling would soon change and become more complicated during the City’s 10-year Waste Management Plan hearing process. We thank everyone who got involved, attended, and helped get answers from the city and the contractor. You can see our filed comments on the plan here.
There, we pushed for maximum communication from the city, and city officials promised they would educate residents many months before the recycling contract ran out on 12/31/2020. We supported their efforts to win public education matching grant funding, which they have been granted. We know its a tough year, and here is what is happening:
Recycling will change in Long Beach… in just 12 days- during a pandemic, over holiday time with still no notice from the city to residents.
We had been waiting for details but can no longer wait to let you know – it will be very difficult to educate the public, and time is running out!
We spoke to the city 3 weeks ago to offer support and help to assure success of any new program rollout. We asked it be announced at tree and menorah lightings and any other city events to get word out. The City of Long Beach must do better on public communication for this to succeed! Though the city has not released details as yet, the basic new program we were told will be:
Dual stream(all still to be confirmed):
paper products must be separated for one pickup; and
other items together in another pickup (status of glass not confirmed).
We commend the city who told us they are still PICKING THEM BOTH UP WEEKLY ON THE SAME DAY AS EACH OTHER, WITH TWO SEPARATE TRUCKS. This is huge to keep the items from building up, from getting trashed, and/or from blowing away to become pollution!
This MAY require recycling pickup dates to CHANGE, as they may break up the citywide pickup into smaller areas, each with it’s own pickup day (awaiting details).
there likely will be other new instructions, restrictions, changes, and exclusions that we are not yet aware of, that could complicate public education and a smooth transition
residents could more easily make the change if given the info and time, and we are disappointed that although they said they had a plan, written instructions, and everything ready to go for weeks, and after a two week delay on voting the measure in, that there is still no release of this information to the public.
Lack of … time, public awareness, acceptance, and education will lead to a difficult launch on January 1, and could lead to a potential backlash against the concept of recycling, as well as recyclables mistakenly blown away into the environment, which is why we have ardently advocated to AVOID miscommunication! In other places, the same process played out over last year’s holiday season, when it is so difficult to get people’s attention. Predictably, it did not go well. see- Residents criticize rollout of Valley Stream recycling program. Rocky start for dual-stream?
Valley Stream Village officials held a presentation, got a front-page Herald article, used social media, sent robocalls and flyers mailed to homes, plus other communications. It wasn’t enough. Hundreds of complaints came in and confusion went on for weeks. We asked the City of Long Beach to please avoid this mistake with clear communication. With COVID and cancelled City Council meetings, we understand it has been difficult to turn the information around. Still, it is 4 days since the council approved the change and nothing has been done.
We agree with leaders in Valley Stream and Long Beach that solving the materials waste and recycling crisis needs to be a priority on the STATEWIDE LEVEL. The separate small municipalities, who are each responsible for their own waste removal, cannot address the “big picture” issues alone, when they are all governed by statewide law.
Our Zero Single Use campaign rolls out in the coming weeks, which will address the underlying issues causing our materials and recycling problems.
All Our Energy stand ready to help Long Beach maintain a robust recycling program, with maximum participation and awareness, to best protect our environment, and stand ready to help the program succeed.
So-so State Of The State.
Yes, we have proposed deadlines for procurement of offshore wind, likely off Long Beach for 2018, and 2019. These are just PROPOSALS so don’t get too excited. Pressure and public support will still be needed to make this a reality, as NY does not have a good track record on delivering what is promised in the already too long time frame given.
Overall, it honestly could be much better and we honestly need much better. We will continue to push for more, faster, and to stop any disastrous investments in fossil fuels our children will be saddled with the financial and climate costs for.
The good news is yes- we CAN do something about all these issues, you can help be the change. We are making huge strides in cleaning up our towns and waterways and helping everyday people become better aware of environmental issues and become involved in them, on our reusable bag campaigns, which are succeeding in making change.
Please get involved with our campaigns and make your voice heard. You can volunteer to help here.
REGULATORY ROLLBACK BY FEDS
We knew it would NOT be good news when the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced a briefing yesterday on 30 minutes notice.
Apparently your ocean (Yes, including the Atlantic) is being made great again for gas and oil drilling, spills, pollution and everything else that comes with it- huge rollbacks in regulations by executive orders, effective immediately and revoking previous moderated plans.
We will be opposing this at every possible turn and will be joining our allies to bring the public together to stop this. https://www.boem.gov/National-Program/
NYC TRYING TO TAP GROUNDWATER SHARED WITH LI
NYC is moving forward with plans to reopen their access to Nassau County’s drinking water, including the fragile, last remaining source for Long Beach and several other towns. They plan to effectively remove 60% the amount that Nassau does daily. This will have a huge impact.
See article: NYC seeks renewal of permit to tap groundwater shared with LI
In spite of what we were working towards this fall, there now doesn’t seem to be any hearings needed, so our petition may be one of only a few ways to stand up against this.
YOUR VOICE WILL BE IMPORTANT TO GETTING OUR WATER PROTECTED. CONSIDERING ONLY 28 PEOPLE INCLUDING OFFICIALS WENT TO THE JUNE HEARING, DO NOT ASSUME YOUR CONCERNS ARE BEING HEARD.
If you haven’t already, please sign and share our petition here. If you have, please share it now.
We have the greatest volunteer team around.. and they make it all happen when we call on them. This past week they turned out for a rally on the freezing cold Long Beach Boardwalk to get NY Off Fossil Fuels, covered in Newsday. Thanks to Joanne, Karen, Susan, Shelley, Karin, Jayne, Barbara and everyone else who came out!
They’ve been diligently seeking, collecting, including reusable bag use info sheets, and then distributing reusable bag donations from local businesses for other organizations to give away during the holiday season, many going out this week with Thanksgiving meals in them in Long Beach, Sea Cliff and Lynbrook.
Do you know what else we are thankful for?
You. Thank you for taking this journey with us and for your support!
Another unwanted pipeline coming onshore? Just, why?
This Saturday 11/18/17 at noon, we will rally on the Long Beach Boardwalk with our allies from New York Communities for Change, Food & Water Watch, NYPIRG, Sane Energy Project, Move Forward Long Island, Show Up Long Island, Sierra Club Long Island Group and others to send a message to Governor Andrew Cuomo: Stop fracking infrastructure in New York!
As part of a statewide week of action, we’re calling on Governor Cuomo to be a true climate leader: #CuomoWalkTheTalk and get New York #OffFossilFuels: to stop the Williams pipeline and other projects that transport and burn fracked oil & gas and commit to transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy.
On Saturday, November 18 at noon, join us on the Long Beach boardwalk at National Boulevard (in front of the Allegria Hotel).
Help save our drinking water in Western Nassau, especially the Long Beach Barrier Island.
Our only source of water is already likely imperiled. Until the current studies we’ve waited years for are completed, we won’t really know how shaky our only aquifer is, but indications are we are already headed for trouble.
Meanwhile… New York City wants to reopen wells in Queens that tap into our only water source, which could have devastating effect on our drinking water.
Millions of gallons of daily water withdrawals in Queens could cause saltwater to be drawn in to Long Beach’s only water source underground, called salt water intrusion, ruining it forever. Something will be drawn to fill the space of the removed water… Without the USGS study conclusions due later this year, we won’t even know how bad it might already be. NYC wants to renew the permits issued decades ago, with no studies or impacts considered before that happens.
New York City, We Love You.
But since we cannot share our only water source without risking permanent damage to that source, and peril to Long Island residents’ only drinking water, YOU MUST STOP THIS ATTEMPT TO EXTRACT LI WATER FOR NYC USE that could have devastating consequences for Long Island, especially as other surface water options exist that NYC could pursue instead!
The public is completely unaware of this problem and we need you to help get word out.
Please sign and share our petition.
LONG BEACH- ALL YOUR NEIGHBORS MUST BE MADE AWARE OF THIS IMMEDIATELY, COME TOGETHER AND DEMAND OUR WATER BE PROTECTED. The NYS comments period has already closed and no one is alerting the public to this threat.
All Our Energy see the need for action and will not sit quietly by while this threat exists. Other than the Long Beach City Manager and Council President, no other local officials, no one from other south shore municipalities, nor any of the 8 candidates for city council spoke at the June 21 hearing.
This must change.
One last thing-
We feel this threat, living on the barrier island, so we see the need to get involved and are unwilling to just ride out this process on the sidelines. Taking on yet another campaign will stretch our resources and volunteers very thin. We need you to mobilize with us, to volunteer on this campaign and to consider financially supporting us so we can take on this issue and have the resources needed to make this emergency campaign heard.
Other groups are working behind the scenes on the drinking water issue. All Our Energy’s focus on public out reach can bring this issue to the forefront.
We will educate and mobilize our community against this very serious threat and make our voices heard. Join us!
The Long Beach State Street Energy Independence Contest is in full swing for residents in the West End! Winning blocks will get funds for their block parties this summer!
The Long Beach checkout bag law takes effect in just 3 weeks!! We are preparing for the festivities around it.
Our volunteer team has been going door to door to merchants to help them with the transition to reusable bags, partner with them for any questions and concerns they still have, and find solutions for bag giveaways. Susan and Joanne are pictured with Natalie Dangerfield (center), owner of Random LB. Also helping have been Jo, Karin, Karen, and Stacy. Thanks for your work to get this done!
Every bag you help us give out eliminates 1000 needless checkout bags from ending up in our environment! If we can give away 1000, it will eliminate 1 million throwaway bags
You can make this real, tangible impact a reality! Check it out at bit.ly/millionbags
Want to see what it might look like from the beach? Click here All Our Energy will be advocating 100% FOR IT and advocating it be done to the highest environmental, wildlife, and shared-use standards possible for best outcomes. As residents of a 100 mile long island that is very vulnerable to climate impacts, we cannot afford to stay on the fossil fuels driving that climate change. The impacts of off shore wind would be minute, compared to more or continued dirty energy use.
If you have any questions about it, please contact us and we will address your concerns or find out the answers you seek.
Join me, Sierra Club, over 20 supporting groups, a league of volunteers, and hundreds of supporters in Long Beach, NY Saturday June 14, 2014 for the Wind 100
Will you be there at this historic event to cheer Matthew Kearns on across the finish line of his 100 mile run from Montauk to Long Beach to bring attention to Long Islands need to get off dirty fossil fuels and switch to clean, efficient, environmentally friendly off shore wind power?
Already hundreds have signed up to come to the rally at the end of the run, which is going to feature bands like “J and the 9’s” and “NOHC” as well as speakers like Mary Anne Hitt, National Director of the Beyond Coal campaign and NY State Senator Dean Skelos.
Event Details
WHO: Wind Energy Supporters, bands including J and the 9’s and NOHC, National Director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign Mary Anne Hitt, Roger Clayman from the AFL-CIO, Catherine Bowes from National Wildlife Federation, Senator Dean Skelos, and you!
WHAT: Wind 100 Rally for Wind Power
WHEN: Saturday, June 14, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
WHERE: Long Beach Boardwalk, 80 West Broadway, Long Beach, NY 11561 (map)