Latest News: New York City

As we all know, traditional pesticides contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to people and our environment. One of the more interesting sustainable alternatives we recently learned about is the small and colorful ladybug.

Nature has always had a part in the world of art. Nowadays, art has become a method of spreading awareness of climate change through all senses rather than simply reading about its impact.

New York City's forests, one of the city’s most valuable environmental assets, help mitigate climate change, provide clean air, and contribute to the well-being of residents. NYLCV’s NYC Program Director Adriana Espinoza recently testified at the City Council Parks Committee in support of investments to protect the hard-working trees that do so much to make NYC a healthier place.

This past week, the New York City Department of Sanitation unveiled its much-anticipated plan to reform the inefficient way that garbage generated by businesses and large private institutions is currently collected by dividing the city into commercial waste zones. The new plan is a significant step forward in reducing truck congestion and addressing the amount of waste in our landfills.

The tunnels under the Hudson River, which are over 100 years old, are deteriorating and face the risk of closing permanently. Luckily, there is a solution: the Gateway Tunnel project. Recently, a coalition of civic, labor and business leaders, including NYLCV, formed the Build Gateway Now Coalition to advocate for and spread awareness of the importance of this project.

The New York City Council held a hearing on lead poisoning prevention and to discuss a package of 25 new bills aimed at combating lead hazards. In our testimony we emphasized the need to optimize and streamline efforts to prevent childhood lead poisoning.

Organic materials comprise about 30% of NYC's waste stream, which amounts to 1 million tons of waste. That’s why the NYC Department of Sanitation launched a voluntary composting pilot program. It expanded over the past few years to serve 3.5 million residents but expansion was recently paused.