Happy New Year!
This is the City of Beacon's third sustainability e-newsletter.
Below, find some updates about what we've been up to in our quest to become the greenest community in the Hudson Valley – from the new plug-in electric cars that are part of the City's fleet and led the way for our fleet efficiency policy, to a new initiative for collecting hard-to-recycle plastics. This edition of the newsletter also introduces a new recurring section on the Conservation Advisory Committee.
If you have any questions or concerns, or want to learn more about anything you see here, please email Eleanor Peck, Beacon's Climate Smart Coordinator, at beaconclimate@gmail.com.
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Updated Green City Purchasing Policy
In January, the City Council updated the city's procurement policy with a "green" purchasing policy and a fleet efficiency policy. What does this mean?
Under the green purchasing policy, whenever the City needs to select an item for purchase, priority shall be given to products which:
- consume the least amount of energy in their manufacture, use and disposal;
- are made from sustainable materials, and/or contain a significant level of recycled or reprocessed material and which are manufactured locally, and/or which are packaged to reduce transportation costs;
- are minimally packaged using recycled, recyclable or biodegradable packaging materials;
- reduce impacts on the environment during manufacture, use or disposal; and
- reduce or eliminate health risks to employees and/or citizens in their manufacture, use or disposal.
At the same time, the products must perform adequately for the intended use and be available at a reasonable price in a reasonable period of time.
You can review the new policies here. They are Appendix A and B.
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One of two plug-in hybrid cars recently purchased by the City. Photo by Collin Milone.
Electric cars
The City recently purchased two new cars. Both are plug-in hybrid electric cars and were paid for in part by a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's Clean Energy Communities program.
Under the new green fleet and equipment policy, passed alongside the green purchasing policy described above, new light-duty vehicles purchased by the City will be electric or plug-in hybrid. If there is not an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle that works for the intended use, City Council can issue a waiver. Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles purchased by the City should be electric or plug-in hybrid when such an option is available for the given application at a cost of purchase and operation not substantially higher compared to conventional vehicles. The policy also specifies that equipment purchased should be electric when possible and that the City should continue to invest in charging infrastructure for the municipal fleet and the public.
Are you considering purchasing a car? Here are some resources:
This tool, created by a team of scientists and backed up by peer-reviewed data, can help you determine the total costs of ownership compared to emissions and help you make an informed decision as to whether an electric car might make sense: carboncounter.com.
Also, Climate Smart Philipstown and Sustainable Hudson Valley are hosting a virtual event titled, Break Up with Your Gas Car: Buying and Owning an EV by and for Women on February 12 at 7:30pm.
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Recycling Filmy Plastic
You can now bring plastic wrappers and bags to convenient drop-off bins. Filmy plastic is a particularly damaging form of single-use plastic because of the toxins released when it breaks down in the environment, and because their microplastics can be more attractive to fish, thus poisoning sea life and the humans that consume it. (Learn more.) It is also hard to recycle.
The Sustainable Beacon recycling and waste reduction working group launched a project to collect filmy plastic from Beacon residents and ensure it is . made into other products. The City is testing this program offered by the Trex decking company for six months. Bring your filmy plastic to bins located at:
- Key Food
- VFW Hall during the Farmer’s Market on Sundays
Thanks to Beacon Recreation, the Lion’s Club, the Beacon Farmer’s Market, and Key Food for their partnership!
Please do not bring: compostable bags, pre-washed salad mix bags, frozen food bags, candy bar wrappers, chip bags, or six-pack rings. Here is what you CAN bring.
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Sustainable Beacon Update
Sustainable Beacon is an initiative moving Beacon towards leadership in our area as the “greenest” community in the Hudson Valley. We have established working groups and partnerships among our boards, city employees and community. The working groups presented initial ideas to City Council on July 27, 2020. Since then, several efforts have gotten under way:
The composting working group is creating a flyer explaining the composting options in Beacon, including home composting and drop-off/pick-up options.
The recycling and waste reduction working group is featured above, getting the filmy plastic recycling campaign off the ground. The group also continues their activities helping City staff get recycling back on Main Street, provide fresh stickers for residential recycling bins, and rework the City's webpages on how to dispose of various waste materials.
The green energy working group is working on a proposal for Clean Energy Communities funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. In addition, the group now has an Energy Navigator to help residents seeking information about free or discounted home energy upgrades like high efficiency lighting, attic and wall insulation, and more! Please reach out if you would like assistance: visit midhudsonenergychoices.org or email h.ogrady.en@gmail.com.
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Conservation Advisory Committee Update
Welcome to our first update on the Conservation Advisory Committee!
During the winter months of 2020-2021 the CAC has been discussing:
- Sampling Fishkill Creek for water quality and safety;
- Promoting greywater recycling for Beacon homes and buildings;
- Collaborating with Beacon for Black Lives to address environmental justice issues;
- Making it more convenient to safely dispose of toxic and hazardous waste, including air conditioners, refrigerators and other home appliances; and
- Producing maps of Beacon’s open spaces as part of an Open Space Inventory.
About the CAC:
- Has nine members appointed by City Council
- Advises the City on preserving and enhancing Beacon’s natural features
- Serves as Beacon’s Climate Smart Task Force
- Meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 7pm. Meetings are open to the public. (Find log-in information at the City calendar).
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