If, like me, you’ve been neglecting your extended family on Staten Island, you may not have noticed the recent installment of recycling bins at the ferry terminals. It appears that the City is running a pilot program to see if putting receptacles in public spaces might encourage New Yorkers to recycle.
The DSNY news release cites:
“Many of us pick up a newspaper and a drink for the ferry ride across the harbor, so placing the recycling bins in the terminals is a great idea,” said Commissioner Weinshall. “I encourage everyone to drop their recyclables in these bins and help keep our new terminals clean.”
During the pilot, which will officially begin on Monday, April 2nd, blue and green recycling bins will be placed in and around the Whitehall and Saint George Staten Island Ferry terminals, as well as Poe Park in the Bronx, Columbus Park in Brooklyn, Union Square Park in Manhattan, Hoffman Park in Queens, and Tappen Park and Clove Lakes Park on Staten Island.
While this appears to be a fantastic idea, I can’t help but notice that three of the pilot sites are on Staten Island and that the Staten Island ferry terminal in Manhattan is a fourth. This makes me nervous. Having lived on Staten Island—and having taken the ferry during the unglamorous morning commuting hours and the even less glamorous weekend bar rush hours—I don’t think I’m being all that prejudiced when I say this recycling expansion is screwed.
Things I have seen in or around the Staten Island ferry terminals:
- A man sitting on a newspaper vending machine, swinging his legs and waving a hand gun.
- Pigeons riding escalators.
- Tired MTA workers on their way home.
- The sons and daughters of transit workers, firemen, immigrants and mafiosi pouring off of boats and stepping onto Manhattan Island.
- The sons and daughters of transit workers, firemen, immigrants and mafiosi crowding around the doors as the next boat pulls in, wishing for the day and commute to be over.
- Drunks bickering over polished wooden bench seats.
- Pacing hookers.
- Bright-eyed young tourist couples excited for a free boat ride and a view of the Statue of Liberty.
Things I have never seen in or around Whitehall and St. George terminals:
- Someone who looks like he’s about to recycle the bottle in that brown paper sack.
Tags: Staten Island
everydaytrash 
Friday, April 13, 2007 at 1:20 pm |
All the pacing hookers I know are diligent recyclers.
Friday, April 13, 2007 at 1:47 pm |
For clarification, I meant to trash Staten Islanders in general, not hookers in particular.
Friday, April 13, 2007 at 3:22 pm |
Wow, hitting the borough with a broad brush. That hurts, yo.
Friday, April 13, 2007 at 3:24 pm |
We only hurt the ones we love.
Friday, April 13, 2007 at 3:50 pm |
Very well played.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 3:04 pm |
[…] Lisa Schneider spotted evidence the new initiative isn’t quite taking off. And everydaytrash looked at the audience this program is targeted at: Things I have seen in or around the Staten Island ferry terminals: – A […]
Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 3:50 pm |
Yeah, this launch program was really successful on the Staten Island side. If success is measured in how many “go f*ck yourself” replies a person dressed in a recycling bin can illicit.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 4:13 pm |
So sad. My heart goes out to the underemployed acting community of our fair city.
If you or anyone you know has ever been employed to dress up as a reclycing bin, please contact me. I’d love to do a tell-all!
Leila
Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 10:30 am |
Confused about recycling?
We can help
New York City residents looking for ways to better understand the city’s recycling rules have a new ally in the
Office of Recycling Outreach and Education.
The Office of Recycling Outreach and Education was established at the Council on the Environment of New York City at the end of 2006. Our recycling coordinators are now available to help educate residents and building service staff on what can be recycled and how to go about meeting the city’s requirements. Free of charge!
Our mission is to help New Yorkers increase the amount of recyclables diverted from the waste stream and promote waste reduction, materials reuse and composting efforts.
Our free services include:
• Building waste audits to assess current recycling programs and identify areas for improvement
• Tenant training sessions
• Special recycling collections for textiles, electronics and compost
• Special events such as community swap days
• Information on waste reduction, reuse and composting programs offered by the City and other local groups.
For more information or to request assistance from a
recycling outreach coordinator, visit http://www.cenyc.org and click on Recyling.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 2:36 pm |
Thanks for the info, Michael!
Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 6:48 pm |
Staten Islanders did a pretty good job at recycling electronics today and they can do an even better job on Sunday
RECYCLE YOUR UNUSED ELECTRONICS
Did you know that 87% of electronic devices (TV’s Stereos, Computers, Cassette Players, etc) end up in landfills? These devices contain lead, mercury & cadmium which cause cancer. It is estimated that 70% of the toxicity in landfills comes from equipment. And you can recycle your old electronics on Sunday, November 16th from 8am – 2pm at the Staten Island Mall (parking lot F). http://www.greenisuniversal.com/greenscreens/
Monday, November 17, 2008 at 11:12 am |
Very cool, thanks for sharing. Sorry I was out of town or might have reposted this to the homepage. Keep the info coming!
Leila