Schenectady County Should do more for the Environment- 4 Suggestions.

Our city and county is getting dirtier. I see lots plastic trash everywhere; plastic bottles/containers, plastic bags, plastic and foam cups, plastic bags and large sheets of plastic stuck on trees and bushes everywhere I go. I travel west every morning on Highway 88, from exit 24 (in Rotterdam) to exit 23 Middleburgh. The exits and entrances of this highway are littered the most, but i also see plastic trash scattered all along the sides and the middle of the highway and in culverts. I also see plastic trash on city roads, on the side of roads, near fences, trees and among tall grass/plants.  Some is even in front of private residences! And no one bothers to pick it up! For instance, I see plastic trash my neighborhood; on Gerling Street, between Rosa Road and Raymond  Streets. On the corner of Mc Clellan and Nott Street, and all along Balltown Road, all along the fence (of Niskayuna Golf Club) starting a block or twwo from Union Street and going all the way past the water resevoir, near CVS!  Even Central Park is littered with trash, especially the creek, that runs behind the children's playground. It is littered with plastic bottles/cups, foam cups, soda cans, plastic bags, and other trash.
It is also unfortunate and immoral that neither, churches , public buildings, and/or the schools recycle their plastic trash. especially bottles, cans, plastic juice cups and cereal bowls. Our schools have resorted to use foam trays to serve our children lunches. Styrofoam cannot be recycled and it is harmful to the environment; it pollutes/contaminates our land and water. In addition, when hot foods are placed on foam trays, or in foam cups, it releases chemicals, hence they go into the food we eat,  therefore we are slowly poisoning our school children. I suspect that most schools administrators aren't aware of this problem. They use foam trays because they are cheaper than regular trays (made from other safe materials) because they do not have to have dishwashers, and neither they have to hire personnel to wash them. So, they're saving money. But at what cost? By slowly poisoning our school children! I suggest that school administrators who make these decisions look at the scientific facts about Styrofoam. They should educate themselves. They should watch the documentary film A PLASTIC OCEAN. This is an excellent film that investigates the effect of plastic and Styrofoam on humans and on the environment, and in particular how it is damaging the worlds' oceans. 

What we, in the USA, are doing as society  is utter foolishness! We are wasting natural resources at taxpayers expenses! And poisoning people and the environment! Do you know how much school spend annually on deposit fees for soda cans and plastic/glass bottles? They spend several thousand dollars per year, if not more- depending on the school population. And yet they do not bother to teach students to be kind/responsible to the planet, and they do not do anything to show their concern! They do not recycle! Plastic bottles and soda cans, and other plastic items, like juice cups, cereal bowls, plastic straws and silverware, etc, are thrown in the garbage.

So, I believe that our city and county can be part of the solution, not the problem, in reducing these threat to our health and our planet, by recycling more, banning plastic/foam packaging and investing in renewable energy. 

I realize that Schenectady County may not have the infrastructure to be able to recycle  more, so new recycling plants may have to be built to meet this need. That is why Schenectady leaders should consider planning/investing in new technology/systems that can recycle our trash and turn into a profitable business, like they have done in many European countries. 
This would certainly benefit our environment and our economy; because we’d stop wasting resources (like plastic and aluminum), and by recycling them we’d put them back into the economy at a profit. Germany, and many other North European, countries have done this successful, including the country of Rwanda. And here in the USA, the State of California, Austin and San Francisco have banned plastic. In addition, countries like Sweden charge more for deposits on returnables, from 10 cents for small bottles/cans to 30 cents for the large 2 liter bottles. This has increased their recycle rate of those items to 95%. Sweden also burns garbage to make electricity! For every 1 ton of trash, they produce 1 ton of fuel! And it is only very low on pollutants, only 1%! Why can’t this be done here? In England plastic producers pay higher rates and roads are now paved with plastic pellets- that were made from recycled plastic! Why can’t Schenectady do it? I think we should!
 
So, often ask myself this question. Why is American society so foolish? Why do we waste natural resources and our tax dollars and ruin the environment? I think most people do not know that most of our trash (close to 80%) winds up in the oceans of the world. people don't know that the oceans are in grave danger! We are polluting them at an alarming rate with our plastic trash; plastic bottles, plastic bags, plastic silverware, plastic dishes, cups, lids, straws, stirrers, lighters, markers, and much more. 

In fact, 2017 statistics by both National Geographic and Green Peace’s show that only 9% is been recycled so far. The vast majority—79%—is accumulating in landfills or sitting in the natural environment. This means that at some point, much of it ends up in the oceans. If present trends continue, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic! That's a garbage truck full every minute. 
But that's not all, then we have micro beads, which are tiny pieces of plastic found in cosmetics (face scrubs), polyester clothes (when dried in electric driers), liquid soaps, some shampoos, toothpaste, and from car tires). Micro plastics are are too small to be filtered out by wastewater plants, so these plastic pieces are remaining in water, which eventually end up flowing into the ocean.

SO, it is obvious that in order to help alleviate/reduce this huge global environmental threat we all need to take action- especially our municipalities, out city/town/county governments, must act now, if we want to avoid a global environmental disaster- and save our planet!

These are my four suggestions.
First. Deploy recycling bins throughout the city; to collect plastic/glass bottles, soda cans and plastic bags. This needs to be done asap to reduce the amount plastic waste because it is polluting our environment, our land and water, and eventually this trash reaches bodies of water, which bring it to the ocean. Recycling bins should be deployed, located throughout the city; on busy street corners, near bus stops, at the airport, in/around the train station, shopping malls, in/around the library and City hall, in/around schools, hospitals, movie theaters, etc. 
Stores should be mandated to have waste baskets and recycling bins (for bottle/cans and non-irredeemable) in/on around their entrances, so that people would have no excuse but to put their trash in the appropriate bins. Costumers, and store owners too, should be fined, if they are caught disregarding these ordinances.  
Warning signs, forbidding dumping/littering of trash and/or these materials should posted, and fines should be imposed on those who litter public and/or outdoor areas.



In the beginning, volunteers could pick up and collect and redeem these items- the money could be donated to environmentally friendly businesses in our city. Later one all of the recyclable materials can be brought to a recycling plant, and profits could be used by the city as income. Think of all the jobs that this new venture could create!
Second. Our city and county should enforce, pass a city/county ordinance that would require; businesses, schools, churches, hospitals and public places to recycle too- hence enforce/make them follow the single stream recycling program that we already have in place. And give fines to those who don't and/or litter.  Signs should be posted around the city, and at highway entrances/exits warning people of stiff fines for loitering with harmful materials like plastic and/or foam.

Third. Ban plastic bags. This will help reduce the pollution of our environment. Other plastic items like plastic & foam packaging, silverware, plastic cups/dishes, plastic coffee stirrers and plastic straws, should be banned. They could be replaced by biodegradable and/or natural ones.

Fourth. Invest in renewable energy; to save money to our city and residents, create new jobs, reduce pollution and global warming- therefore build a better future for our city. 

I believe that these steps are necessary, and must be taken soon, because time is running out. Our city and county must do this, so we can assure a better and a healthier future for all of us, and a safe livable planet.

To learn more about plastic pollution copy and paste the link below on your address browser, and then press enter.
 https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1152318122222144980#editor/target=post;postID=874364769975375201;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=18;src=link

FILMS/THAT ALL LEADERS, PARENTS and ANYONE WHO IS CONCERNED FOR OUR HEALTH and our PLANET SHOULD WATCH

  1.  A PLASTIC OCEAN. This is an adventure documentary. It was shot on more than 20 locations for over 4 years. Explorers Craig Leeson (also a journalist) and Tanya Streeter (an Olympic world champion deep-sea diver), and a team of international scientists reveal the causes and consequences of plastic pollution and share solutions. An interesting and educational film that presents the problem ocean plastic pollution beautifully. It also offers hope/solutions; hence it will motivate you to act. In fact, after watching it, I finally understood why we often see whales dying on beaches worldwide. To take action join the global movement at www.plasticoceans.org From this site you can request for a public screening of A PLASTIC OCEAN and to watch trailer CLICK/VISIT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zrn4-FfbXw

 
(Note: if the link doesn’t work, you can copy and paste the title of the film/video on the YouTube browser and press enter)

2. Plastic Paradise. The GREAT Pacific Garbage Patch. The Great Pacific garbage patch is documentary film (suited for high school and adult), also described as the Pacific trash vortex, a large area that is polluted with plastic. This film was released in August 2010; Plastic Paradise Movie – an independent documentary by Angela Sun uncovering the mystery of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch known as the Plastic Paradise · The source of the garbage patches. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf5JI0b1L7k\

3. An Inconvenient Sequel- TRUTH TO POWER.  This is a powerful and urgent message for humanity. Also suited for high school and adult. This documentary will inspire and teach you what you need to do if you are interested in protecting earth and want to begin taking action in making our planet, cleaner, safer and livable again. I love VP Al Gore's dedication, passion and leadership in fighting for our planet. He truly is a visionary, an intelligent, but most
of all, a caring human being who cares for our planet and for environmental justice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huX1bmfdkyA

Become a P.O.P.E., a Protector Of Planet Earth!
Take the Pledge! To care/defend all living things! 
"I promise to be kind to the earth and all living things (including people!), and to do my best- all I can- in protecting earth's oceans and its environment by all types of pollution and/or any other threat." By Ottavio Lo Piccolo

Earth Day 2018: End Plastic Pollution
Countdown to April 22 - Plastic pollution is poisoning our oceans and land, injuring marine life, and affecting our health! 

Help End Plastic Pollution by finding out how many plastic items you consume
every year and make a PLEDGE to reduce the amount.
Earth Day 2018 is dedicated to providing the information and inspiration needed to fundamentally
change human attitude and behavior about plastics.
Choose an option below to take further action to End Plastic Pollution on Earth Day and beyond!
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