GREEN PARTY OF NEW YORK
http://www.gpnys.org/
Alice Green for Mayor
Candidate Press Release
September 5, 2005
For More Information:
Alice Green 518 482-2672
Mark Dunlea 518 286-3411
Alice Green Opposes Expansion of Albany
Landfill in Pine Bush, Supports Volume Based Garbage System, Expanded
Recycling and Composting Calls for Albany to Become a Zero Waste
Community
Alice Green, the Green Party candidate for Mayor
in the City of Albany, stated that she opposed a proposal by the
Jennings administration to use land dedicated to the Pine Bush
Preserve to expand the Rapp Road landfill for another 20 years.
"This is another example of how the City
doesn't have a system for community input. The City needs to be much
more aggressive in reducing the amount of garbage it generates,
starting with going to a volume-based garbage disposal system and
expanding recycling and composting. The City should join communities
like Seattle in adopting a Zero Waste approach to garbage, seeking to,
over time, eliminate the need for a landfill," stated Green.
"The City should have saved space in the
landfill years ago by stopping the importation of garhage from other
communities once it became clear we had to close it," added
Green. "Instead, Albany became a garbage addict, using the
landfill as a cash cow. Even now, we can keep the landfill open longer
by taking aggressive action to stop the amount of garbage coming
in." Even at present disposal rates, it is expected the landfill
can remain open five years.
The City of Albany is expected to raise nearly $14
million in 2005 from selling landfill space to private garbage haulers
and 12 other communities.
Five years ago the local Green City Project
developed a comprehensive solid waste proposal for the City of Troy,
including recycling and composting. Green supports adopting those
recommendations for Albany.
In a volume-based garbage system, residents would
be charged based on the amount of garbage they throw out, while
recycling would be free. This would provide a financial incentive for
households to reduce the amount of waste they throw away. The Greens
have long advocated a regional Material Recovery Facility (MRF) to
improve the collection and marketing of recyclables by local
governments. The Greens also advocate diverting food and yard waste
out of landfills, including both promoting backyard composting and
having curbside pickup of food waste. The City currently picks up yard
waste.
Green called for the City to set of goal of
reaching an overall solid waste recycling rate of 50% by 2006; 60% by
2008.
The Zero Waste commitment looks beyond recycling
to preventing garbage at the source. Many communities worldwide have
begun to join the Zero Waste campaign. It is particularly strong in
New Zealand, where a third of all local government councils have now
passed resolutions to work for 'Zero Waste to landfills by 2015.
In a Zero Waste Community, local businesses
practices are charged to prevent waste. For instance, copy machines
are set to default to double-sided copies on recycled paper; more use
is made of electronic documents. The city would adopt a "green
purchasing" program -- buying non-toxic cleaning products,
janitorial supplies and "environmentally preferable"
electronics. For instance, the City policy should be to use recycled
antifreeze; recycled latex plant; and paper with at least 50%
recycled-content paper.
Governor Pataki recently signed legislation
requiring non-toxic cleaning products for the state. The City could
buy products off the state purchasing list.
Manufacturers would be required to take more
environmental responsibility for their products and to create
materials that cause fewer disposal problems. The effort includes
"take-back" programs for computer monitors and furniture.
Another Zero Waste initiative would include
Use-It-Again Albany, featuring community "garage sales"
throughout the city, allows residents to drop off and pick up items
free (no electronics, appliances, couches or mattresses). This could
alsohelp create entry-level jobs.
In Seattle, the Take-It-Back Network returned 600
tons of computers monitors and other components in 2004 to
participating retail stores. Groups such as the Rechargeable Battery
Recycling Coalition intercept items that shouldn't go in landfills. A
city "green building" program, aimed at recycling, water and
energy conservation and waste prevention, has also produced results.
Eleven city projects last year kept nearly 57,000 tons -- or $560,000
worth -- of salvaged or reused materials out of landfills.
