 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
ACAL NewsRecent Documents...
News Updates...ACAL News – Week of 16 March 2007Last week I received an email from ACAL member Beth Roberts of Woodgate. Beth shared with me a news story she had watched regarding the horrible deaths of birds and other wildlife due to plastic grocery bags in landfills. In light of ACAL’s mission to preserve and protect the water, air, land and wildlife in the region and to discourage pollution in all forms, I decided to follow-up on the information I received from Beth and did some research regarding plastic bags. It appears the excessive use of plastic and plastic bags is a worldwide problem. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland, Australia, www.epa.qld.gov.au, Plastic, which generally makes up about 60 percent of rubbish are the worst offenders [to the environment]. An estimated 100,000 marine mammals and turtles are killed by plastic litter each year around the world. With 7 billion tons of debris entering the world’s oceans annually, most of it long-lasting plastic, there’s a lot of potential for harm to our birds and marine mammals. Planet Ark, an Australian based non-profit environmental organization founded in 1991, works to show people the many ways they can reduce their day to day impact on the environment - at home, at work and in the community. According to their website, www.planetark.com, plastic bags take 15 to 1,000 years to break down in the environment. Since landfills are not designed to breathe like compost, which breaks down organic matter quickly, decomposition of buried garbage, choked of oxygen, takes hundreds and hundreds of years to break down. As a result, landfills are not only the largest source of land polluters in the world, but they are also breeding grounds for potential deaths when plastic bags blow off landfill sites and are mistaken for food by birds and wildlife. Countries throughout the world are trying to make a positive difference on the global environment by reducing plastic bag usage. In May 2002, Ireland passed a 25-cent per bag tax levy on every plastic grocery bag at supermarkets. Within 5 months, plastic grocery bag usage dropped 90%. The plan has been so successful that Ireland plans to increase the tax levy to 29-cents to further discourage consumers from using plastic bags. Some governments such as those in South Africa, Rwanda and Northern India have banned the use of plastic bags, while European retailers in Germany, Denmark and Switzerland are charging consumers for plastic bags without government legislation. A February 22, 2007 Reuters news story entitled, “IKEA to Charge U.S. Customers for Plastic Bags” (located on the Planet Ark website) said the Sweden-based furniture company will no longer give away free plastic bags to customers. Their effort is aimed at reducing “the estimated 100 billion bags thrown away by all U.S. consumers each year.” According to the article, “The average American family of four throws away about 1,500 single use polyethylene bags … less than 1% are recycled.” It is apparent that Americans must begin to do their part in reducing plastic bag usage. “Every plastic bag we don’t use makes the world safer for wildlife,” says Planet Ark. What can you and I do to reduce plastic bags from ending up in landfills and harming birds, fish, and wildlife? 1. Create less garbage • Buy products with reduced packaging or made from biodegradable material • Buy food in bulk to reduce wasted packaging • Start composting kitchen scraps, grass, and leaves 2. Recycle In addition to recycling all the items your particular area will accept, please consider taking your bottles and cans to the redemption centers in Boonville and Mohawk Hill and donate your receipts to ACAL. 3. Purchase biodegradable garbage bags, which take less time to break down in landfills Many companies that sell biodegradable bags, also donate a percentage of their profits to help protect the environment. www.biobagus.com www.ecoproducts.com www.planetark.com 4. When you are asked, “Paper or plastic?” … Always say paper. Paper is biodegradable and some counties in New York State recycle paper bags. 5. Purchase reusable bags for groceries and shopping www.reusablebags.com “BYOB – bring your own bag” I purchased my first set of reusable cloth grocery bags a number of years ago when I belonged to a whole foods coop. Fifteen years later, I am still using the exact same bags. When they start to get dingy, I throw them in the washer with some towels and hang them on the line to dry outdoors. And the good news … supermarkets will give you 5-cents credit per reusable bag. As a result, grocery stores pay me to shop at their stores. If an average family of four throws away 1,500 plastic grocery bags each year, then I, alone, save nearly 400 plastic bags from entering landfills each year by using reusable bags; the proof that one person can definitely make a difference. And knowing that I can help protect birds, fish and wildlife is all the thanks I need. Jacki Chamberlain, Communications Chairperson Adirondack Communities Advisory League (ACAL) 07/02/10 - Burning household trash is illegal in New York 06/17/10 - New Yorkers for Zero Waste Platform 07/13/09 - ACAL - Alive and well 04/13/08 - ACAL 2008 Update - Part 2 03/18/08 - ACAL Continues Environmental Mission in 2008 11/09/07 - Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust 10/26/07 - A good read - The Adirondack Atlas 10/12/07 - New York State Opening Meeting Law 09/28/07 - ACAL Fall Foliage Auction Oct. 5 09/21/07 - Integrity found in the Town of Ava 09/14/07 - Tug Hill resources have been targeted 08/19/07 - Fair and straighforward journalism? 08/10/07 - A Needed Appreciation for Nature 08/03/07 - New York State Municipal Home Rule Law 07/27/07 - Boonville Village Litter/Debris Local Law 07/19/07 - Black River Landing Subdivision Issues 07/13/07 - WTE vs. Landfills 06/29/07 - Too many impaired waters - Black River Watershed 06/22/07 - Protecting our drinking water starts at home 06/15/07 - ACAL Joins Northern Forest Alliance 06/07/07 - ACAL Holds 200/20 Drawing & Picnic, Annual Meeting 06/07/07 - ACAL AWARDED GRANT 06/01/07 - Be a solution - get involved 05/25/07 - American flags do not belong in landfills 05/24/07 - PRESS RELEASE - ACAL Signs Stolen & Vandalized 05/18/07 - Reality check for the DEC 05/04/07 - All citizens are called to act responsibly 04/27/07 - "An Inconvenient Truth" 04/13/07 - Citizens Deserve the Whole Truth ... 04/06/07 - Great Lakes United & Citizen Resources 03/30/07 - "What is the future of local government?" 03/23/07 - Citizens Expect More From Local Government 03/16/07 - Plastic Grocery Bags Harm Wildlife 03/09/07 - The Precious Gift of Water 03/02/07 - Working Together to Protect the Environment 02/26/07 - Grassroots groups are citizens who care! 02/16/07 - Local Citizens Want Environment Protected 02/09/07 - Open Letter to Boonville Town/Village Officials 02/02/07 - Ava Landfill Story Told in Chicago 01/26/07 - It's time for New Yorkers to reclaim their rights! 01/12/07 - CITIZENS' RIGHTS ARE NOT FOR SALE! 01/05/07 - "DO NOT LITTER" Applies to Everyone 12/15/06 - "March of the Penguins" 12/08/06 - Be "good news" in the community 12/01/06 - Moose Creek Prediction - 12 years ago! 11/22/06 - United Haulers v. OHSWA 11/17/06 - A Citizen's Rights 11/03/06 - EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE 11/01/06 - ACAL statement regarding opening of landfill 10/24/06 - OHSWA Opens Landfill Without Required DEC Permit 10/20/06 - OHSWA required by DEC to have proper permit 10/13/06 - Dr. Bob Johnson Speaks at Public Forum 10/06/06 - OHSWA Fails to Deliver 10/04/06 - PRESS RELEASE - Court Denies OHSWA Motions 09/26/06 - PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT 09/21/06 - If OHSWA knew what they were doing ... 09/08/06 - Joint Board Resolution Revisited 08/28/06 - A Special Message 08/11/06 - Who will save the Town of Ava? 07/21/06 - The Emperor isn't wearing any clothes! 06/10/06 - Honoring Flag Day 05/19/06 - Local Residents Demand Protection for Environment 05/12/06 - The Foundation for a Better Life 05/05/06 - ACAL will pursue justice 04/28/06 - "Tug Hill, A Threatened Paradise" 04/21/06 - NYS environmental law contradicts State action 04/13/06 - The Tug Hill Plateau is worth protecting! 03/22/06 - Press Release - OHSWA & Rifenburg Being Sued 02/24/06 - ACAL Finds NYSDEC Consent Out of Order 02/03/06 - ACAL Defends the Truth 01/02/06 - PRESS RELEASE 12/15/05 - ACAL Continues with its Mission 12/01/05 - Tug Hill Heritage 11/23/05 - Boonville Breaks Resolution 11/06/05 - October 2005 OHSWA meeting 10/28/05 - NYS Waste Disposal Policies Not Enforced 10/21/05 - Environmental Conservation Laws 10/12/05 - Response to Village Trustee 09/23/05 - OHSWA Permit Violations 09/16/05 - ACAL Misinformation 09/07/05 - Press Release: DEC Enforcement Action 08/24/05 - ACAL Misinformation 08/05/05 - It's never too late 07/22/05 - Citizens, stand strong - DO NOT NEGOTIATE! 07/15/05 - PRESS RELEASE - Problems on Ava Landfill Site 07/08/05 - The truth must be told 07/07/05 - WBRV Statement #5 - DANGER to our drinking water 07/06/05 - WBRV Statement #4 - Polluting landfills kill 07/05/05 - WBRV STATEMENT #3 - Boonville Poll Not Official 06/29/05 - WBRV Statement #2 - Landfills provide NO benefits 06/27/05 - WBRV Statement #1 -Towns must stick together 06/24/05 - Waste to energy facilities better alternative 06/17/05 - Boonville boards break agreement 06/17/05 - Slope failure sends mud into Moose Creek AGAIN! 06/12/05 - Environmentally safe alternatives to landfills 05/27/05 - Town of Ava will file an appeal 05/22/05 - Dynamite blasting on landfill site? 05/15/05 - Oneida County in Trouble 05/08/05 - FACTS and What You Can Do 05/01/05 - Community Gathers for Prayer Service 04/24/05 - Personal Letter to NYS Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi 04/17/05 - Power of Prayer 04/03/05 - The Waste Authority Must Be Stopped! 03/27/05 - Letter to NYS Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi 03/20/05 - OHSWA Propaganda 03/13/05 - Letter to Griffo - Put Words into Action! 03/06/05 - Get involved in your community 02/27/05 - Assemblyman Townsend Has Concerns Re: OHSWA 02/06/05 - Power of the Press 01/24/05 - Legislator Pam Mandryck Opposes SWA Reappointment 01/02/05 - Weeks of 1/2 - 1/16/05 12/22/04 - Response to letter 12/12/04 - Senator Ray Meier Favors Ava Landfill 11/28/04 - Proud Heritage 11/14/04 - Oneida County chooses - for the people, or not? 11/07/04 - Letters sent to Governor and NYS Senators 10/31/04 - Ava/Boonville future - NO DUMP! 10/28/04 - Letter to Governor Pataki 10/24/04 - Environment Justice All the Way! 10/22/04 - Press Release 10/17/04 - No Civil Rights for Ava Residents 10/10/04 - Article 78 Lawsuit Against DEC Commissioner Crotty 10/03/04 - 400+ Days and Still Fighting! 09/27/04 - Family Home Threatened 09/26/04 - Important Facts to Know About the Ava Landfill 09/19/04 - Letter from Concerned Citizen 09/12/04 - Small Town of Ava Dragged into Court by OHSWA 08/29/04 - Where Do Your Loyalities Lie? 08/22/04 - Beaver Dam Incident Still a Mystery 08/15/04 - Ava-Boonville-Lewis Joint Boards Resolution |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
