NEWS OF THE MONTH FROM THE TARRYTOWN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL
LOVE YOUR VILLAGE PARTICIPATING IN TEAC IS EASY… JUST COME TO A MEETING!The Tarrytown Environmental Advisory Council (TEAC) depends on volunteers to maintain issues shifting. We’re a enjoyable and interesting group of like-minded residents working to make Tarrytown’s air, land, lakes and river more healthy and cleaner.Our subsequent assembly will probably be held via Zoom tomorrow, Thursday, December 2, at 7pm.This month, we’ll hear from a few of our committees: Lakes, Landscaping, Vitality and Conservation, and Zero Waste.If any of those committee matters curiosity you, otherwise you simply need to study extra about what we do, please be at liberty to hitch us!Zoom Hyperlink: CLICK HERE
TIPS TO STOP THE CYCLE: WASTE WARRIORS! ______________________
By Catherine Ruhland
You will have observed one thing totally different on the TASH (Tarrytown and Sleepy Hole) Farmers Market in Patriots Park the previous few weeks.
Since TASH distributors at the moment are utilizing compostable single-use packaging for ready-to-eat ready meals and drinks, there at the moment are three disposal items at every waste station throughout the market. The three items are for: compostables, recyclables, and trash.
Recyclables and trash (all the things that can not be reused, recycled, or composted) may be self explanatory. Compostables embrace discarded meals, paper (napkins, tissues, cardboard meals containers) and compostable plastics. As an alternative of utilizing plastic constituted of petrochemicals and fossil fuels, compostable plastics are derived from renewable supplies like corn, potato, and tapioca starches, cellulose, soy protein, and lactic acid.
Compostable plastics are non-toxic and decompose again into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass when composted and can be utilized for meals and beverage containers in addition to utensils and different objects. These things needs to be clearly marked as “compostable” or say one thing like “this may be composted in industrial composting amenities.” They aren’t meant for yard composters, however they are often damaged down in industrial composting amenities. Tarrytown and different Westchester villages ship our meals scraps recycling to the Ulster County Useful resource Restoration Company in Kingston NY. Learn More Here
Eradicating the natural waste supplies from the waste stream considerably reduces the amount and weight of the trash going to the landfill or waste-to-energy plant /incinerator, as we’ve got in Westchester. Not solely does the heavy moist meals require extra power to course of, it may well clog the system, making the entire operation much less environment friendly.
However extra importantly, by separating the meals scraps and compostables, the natural waste materials will be transformed into compost, to be put again into the Earth to nourish the soil. After all, market goers are sometimes not pondering in these phrases, so TEAC has created a Zero Waste Committee with volunteer “Waste Warriors”: of us who’re making an attempt to assist Tarrytown cut back waste.
The market has ended for the season, however when it begins up once more in Might, take a look at the trash areas. You will see useful Waste Warriors there to information you thru the brand new trash protocol. Please thank them for his or her efforts and if you need to volunteer, ship a fast be aware to us at TEAC at tarrytownenviro@gmail.com.
A Dwelling Reminiscence for the Holidays!
Picture: A potted White Spruce is able to have a good time the vacations with you!
by Cynthia Stegman
Imagine it or not, you may get pleasure from the great thing about a Christmas tree all 12 months lengthy, 12 months after 12 months, whereas additionally serving to the surroundings and including worth and curiosity to your yard. If you’re pondering of beginning a brand new vacation custom along with your family members, it may be time to check out a reside tree for Christmas!
As we proceed to comprehend the implications of “throwaway tradition” and single-use merchandise, there’s one custom that appears to have stayed underneath the radar: the U.S. cuts down between 30-40 million timber to be used as Christmas decorations annually which might be loved for just a few weeks after which thrown away, just for households to repeat the method every vacation season. The standard American Christmas tree is one which has had its roots lower off and is of the “use and throwaway” selection, and sadly these timber are sometimes left to rot or find yourself in landfills, the place they launch previously-trapped carbon dioxide (CO2) again into the ambiance. The one environmentally pleasant strategy to get rid of a lower tree is to correctly mulch and recycle it in order that the captured CO2 is transferred safely to the soil through the tree splinters and sawdust, as an alternative of being launched into the air.
In distinction, a residing Christmas tree with its roots intact will proceed to soak up CO2 whenever you carry it dwelling for the vacations, and can accomplish that so long as it’s alive. Shopping for a residing tree for Christmas helps native tree farms (respected farmers change every tree with 1-3 new plantings!) and helps keep a wholesome, numerous panorama along with serving to to combat local weather change and clear our air. After the vacation season a residing Christmas tree will be planted within the floor or a bigger container annually, and will be reused time and again as vacation decor. When planted open air, your residing Christmas tree can proceed to be embellished for the vacations with out of doors lights, pure ornaments and environmentally pleasant or edible garlands.
What’s the catch with shopping for a Dwelling Christmas tree?
A tree full with roots continues to be a reside tree, and will probably be conserving its power throughout the chilly season. With the intention to enhance the chances of the tree surviving, these residing timber can solely be indoors for per week on the most, and should be slowly acclimated each into and out of the home, or they threat waking up mid-winter and stunting their progress or struggling shock within the sudden temperature change.
One other limitation of reside timber is dimension: the larger and heavier the tree, the harder it is going to be to maneuver round, and a much bigger gap will must be dug when it’s time to plant it within the floor. Smaller reside timber, as much as about 3-4ft tall, are rather more readily discovered and are often in a plastic container, whereas taller residing timber will be more durable to seek out and often have their root balls wrapped in burlap as an alternative of a plastic container. All the native nurseries listed under have a small choice of bigger residing timber, which may also be known as “panorama” timber.
Lastly, residing timber will value greater than lower “use and throwaway” timber: tabletop-sized specimens can value wherever from $10-$20, and reside timber begin their pricing at about $75 for a smaller, ~2-3ft tree in a container, however will be as excessive as $150 for a fuller tree or a specialty selection equivalent to Dwarf Blue Spruce. Bigger >5ft tall residing “panorama” timber with burlap-wrapped roots are sometimes dearer and vary upwards from $200, and will require a truck or particular transport to your house.
MODERNIZE AND SAVE FUEL WATCH OUR FREE WEBINAR – DEC 8! ______________________
MYTHBUSTING: DO RECYCLABLES ACTUALLY GET RECYCLED IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY? ____________________________________
By Rachel Tieger
We’ve all learn articles and heard new applications that our recycling is simply ending up within the landfill or incinerator. A few of these stories could have been from NY Occasions, Forbes, NPR and different credible sources.
So the query is, what occurs to our recyclables in Westchester and are they really being recycled?
In response to Louis Vetrone, the Deputy Waste Commissioner of Division of Amenities Administration in Westchester County, the reply is “sure they’re”.
Mr. Vetrone submits that Westchester was capable of survive China’s Sword Coverage by taking a few of the following measures: Twin Stream Assortment, Training Applications like Recycle Proper NY, Sustaining Home Markets, Upgraded MRF Sorting and Recycling Enforcement.
The Daniel P. Thomas Materials Restoration Facility (MRF) in Yonkers processed greater than 140,000,000 kilos of recyclables collected by municipalities in 2019. Regardless of a worldwide recession that hit the recyclables market laborious over the previous few years, the sale of recyclable supplies generated income of practically $3,000,000.
Sometimes, the MRF is open to the general public for excursions however as a result of pandemic, all excursions have been suspended till additional discover. See the under assets for extra details about Recycling in Westchester County
SHOPPING SUGGESTION TaSH Vacation Market
Tarrytown & Sleepy Hole Winter Stroll
Washington Irving helped form the celebration of Christmas as we all know it now. Dec 4, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM Tarrytown, Principal St, Tarrytown, NY 10591, USA
Concerning the occasion: Kick off the Vacation season on December 4th with the first-ever Tarrytown and Sleepy Hole Winter Stroll! Prolonged procuring hours, out of doors eating, vacation treats, carolers, ugly sweater contest, reside leisure and different particular occasions hosted by the Historic Society and native shopkeepers.
EATS, ROOTS, LEAVES: VEGAN RECIPES OF THE MONTH By Cari NewtonDecember has all of the magical feels of the vacations from household traditions, heat sweaters, snow, cozy mugs of sizzling cocoa, and items! Whereas I’ll offer you an incredible recipe under for gifting to others, think about the earth, your well being, and the animals this vacation season and provides the reward of going vegan. You don’t need to go utterly or completely plant-based to get on the “Good Record”. Even small actions like taking part in Meatless Mondays or solely consuming a vegan weight loss program on weekdays add as much as make a distinction for our surroundings. Each time you select a plant-based meal, know you’re contributing to the better good. If you wish to make the largest environmental influence, absolutely quit all animal merchandise, however keep in mind, each little bit helps! If you’re simply beginning out and you are feeling like you need to use somewhat further assist figuring all of it out, end up an skilled vegan that’s keen to be your “mentor” to assist reply any questions you could have. Their expertise can present one of the best product, recipe, and restaurant suggestions.Additionally, there are various on-line and social media assets for data, recipes, help teams, and even enjoyable social teams the place you may study one of the best eating places and vegan merchandise which might be out there in your space. As all the time, your native library is a good place to check out new vegan cookbooks. The Warner Library in Tarrytown has a pleasant choice to select from.This month’s recipe has been in my recipe assortment for a few years. These Samoa Balls are good for reward giving or make a batch to share at a vacation celebration. They’re fast and simple to make with solely 5 elements. Plus, they’re so versatile, you may add different non-compulsory elements to alter them as much as what you’ve available or to offer a pleasant selection.To make an ideal eco-friendly reward, you have to a clear jar & lid, a scrap of cloth that’s bigger than the lid, a rubber band and a bit of ribbon or twine to tie a bow across the lid. Fill the Jar with Samoa balls, heart the material on the lid an put the rubber band round it to carry it in place, tie on the ribbon to safe, and provides one to all your pals!
Samoa Balls
Substances Packed 1 cup of dates ¼ cup shredded coconut 1/8 tsp pure vanilla ¼ tsp salt ¼ cup chocolate chips
Instructions Put all of the elements collectively in your meals processor or blender and blend till blended and date items are small. Every thing ought to nonetheless be somewhat chunky. Roll into balls. Garnish by rolling in further shredded coconut. It will forestall them from sticking collectively. Chill them within the fridge to agency them up earlier than you plate them for a celebration or fill a jar for a present.
Now for the variations: you may add so many various issues. Pecans, walnuts, cashews, different nuts of your selection, nut butters, hemp seeds, sea salt flakes, crisped rice, sunflower seeds, toasted coconut, dried cranberries, different dried fruits like raisins, cherries, figs, or apricots… The probabilities are infinite!
PRO TIP: make just a few batches, as a result of these are so good, they may disappear quick!
NOTES FROM THE TARRYTOWN TREE COMMISSION:
TREES IN A TARRYTOWN TAXI By Martin Hauser, Co-Chair, Tree Fee
This dialog passed off on the evening of November eighth, 2021, at 9:15 PM:
TAXI DRIVER: So, Martin, you had some kinda shindig tonight on the bar again there?
ME: Yup. A prized Village employees member is stepping as much as a greater job in Briarcliff Manor, so we gave him a going-away celebration.
TD: You’re employed for the Village? ME: Effectively, I sit on the Village Environmental Advisory Council and I chair the Village Tree Fee.
TD: Tree Fee! What does the Tree Fee do?
ME: We resolve the place timber needs to be planted on Village property and what sort of timber they need to be. We all the time wish to have recommendations from the general public, too, about the place timber may be planted. We additionally assessment the allow functions of people that need to take down a tree of their yard.
TD: Wait only a minute! You’re telling me that if I need to lower down a tree in my yard, I’ve to get a allow to try this?
ME: That’s proper. When you take down a tree, or trim a tree, with no allow, you may get a hefty positive. If the tree is broken or diseased or posing a hazard to you or your neighbors there shouldn’t be any downside. However if you wish to take down a wonderfully wholesome tree, you’re prone to run into issues with the Tree Fee.
TD. So if I purchase a home, and it’s my property, I can’t lower down a tree with out permission from the Village?
ME: That’s proper.
TD: Now why the hell is that? ME: Lotta causes. The one you may be most taken with is that it lowers your property worth. Stunning outdated timber add to the worth of your property. When you lower them down, you’re dropping cash on the resale worth.
TD: Is that so? I by no means knew that.
ME: And it doesn’t cease there. You’re additionally reducing your neighbors’ property values as properly. Individuals need a home that’s surrounded by timber and greenery. A tree-lined avenue is a fascinating neighborhood. The true property individuals inform us that communities with tree cowl have increased property values generally as a result of they’re extra fascinating locations to reside.
TD: Effectively, I’ll be. I by no means knew that earlier than.
ME: I may also point out the worth to your well being. Research in England present that individuals who reside in a spot with plenty of inexperienced round are more healthy each mentally and bodily. They are saying that inexperienced and rising issues have a relaxing impact in your thoughts and physique.
TD: That too?
TD: And from highschool biology that timber breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen, so all of us want timber simply to breathe.
TD: I do not forget that.
ME: However let’s get again to cash. Timber may also cut back your power prices. Timber on the north, west and east sides of your own home can shelter it from our bitter winter winds. Shady timber on the west and south sides of the home hold the summer season solar from beating down on you, so it can save you each on heating and on air-conditioning prices.
TD: I’d by no means have figured that out in one million years.
ME: In truth, timber profit the entire neighborhood that approach. A great tree cowl can decrease the summer season temperatures locally by eight or ten levels.
TD: Wow.
ME: Additionally, timber present a house for birds and for the little critters that birds eat, so we’d like timber. Biologists say that we might lose 80% of our birds by the flip of the century. Who needs their grandchildren rising up with no birds singing within the morning, with out watching the birds constructing their nests and hatching their offspring. What sort of a world would that be?
TD: No, I wouldn’t need that.
ME: Effectively, right here we’re. Thanks, Jimmy. Maintain the change. Be seeing you quickly, little doubt.
December has all of the magical feels of the vacations from household traditions, heat sweaters, snow, cozy mugs of sizzling cocoa, and items! Whereas I’ll offer you an incredible recipe under for gifting to others, think about the earth, your well being, and the animals this vacation season and provides the reward of going vegan. You don’t need to go utterly or completely plant-based to get on the “Good Record”. Even small actions like taking part in Meatless Mondays or solely consuming a vegan weight loss program on weekdays add as much as make a distinction for our surroundings. Each time you select a plant-based meal, know you’re contributing to the better good. If you wish to make the largest environmental influence, absolutely quit all animal merchandise, however keep in mind, each little bit helps! If you’re simply beginning out and you are feeling like you need to use somewhat further assist figuring all of it out, end up an skilled vegan that’s keen to be your “mentor” to assist reply any questions you could have. Their expertise can present one of the best product, recipe, and restaurant suggestions.Additionally, there are various on-line and social media assets for data, recipes, help teams, and even enjoyable social teams the place you may study one of the best eating places and vegan merchandise which might be out there in your space. As all the time, your native library is a good place to check out new vegan cookbooks. The Warner Library in Tarrytown has a pleasant choice to select from.This month’s recipe has been in my recipe assortment for a few years. These Samoa Balls are good for reward giving or make a batch to share at a vacation celebration. They’re fast and simple to make with solely 5 elements. Plus, they’re so versatile, you may add different non-compulsory elements to alter them as much as what you’ve available or to offer a pleasant selection.To make an ideal eco-friendly reward, you have to a clear jar & lid, a scrap of cloth that’s bigger than the lid, a rubber band and a bit of ribbon or twine to tie a bow across the lid. Fill the Jar with Samoa balls, heart the material on the lid an put the rubber band round it to carry it in place, tie on the ribbon to safe, and provides one to all your pals!
