December 2023
USDA Releases New Plant Hardiness Zones
Long Island has shifted from Zone 7a to 7b, meaning our average minimum temperatures are now 5 to 10 degrees F, up 5 degrees over the previous map from 2012. The USDA did comment that "Changes to plant hardiness zones are not necessarily reflective of global climate change because of the highly variable nature of the extreme minimum temperature of the year." This change will allow us to grow a greater variety of plants, some people have found that they don’t have to wrap their fig trees the way they did in the past, as one example. The downside of this increase is that more insects and other pests will be able to survive through the winter; for instance, ticks will be active in more months and in greater quantities. A detailed map of New York showing the slight variations on Long Island can be seen here: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/system/files/NY150_HS.png and they have released several videos in a new Tips for Growers feature https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/
Giant Hogweed is Getting Closer
The NYDEC released a map of infestations of Giant Hogweed, it appears the nearest ones are located in the Oyster Bay area. The plant, which Science Alert calls a "giant horror plant," is a federally listed noxious weed. Its sap, when mixed with moisture and sunlight, can cause severe skin and eye irritation, painful blistering, permanent scarring and even blindness, according to the DEC. The plant can grow to 14 feet or more. Its hollow, ridged stems grow 2-4 inches in diameter and have dark reddish-purple blotches. Its large compound leaves can grow up to 5 feet wide. Its white flower heads can grow up to 2 1/2 feet in diameter, the DEC adds.
The NYDEC released a map of infestations of Giant Hogweed, it appears the nearest ones are located in the Oyster Bay area. The plant, which Science Alert calls a "giant horror plant," is a federally listed noxious weed. Its sap, when mixed with moisture and sunlight, can cause severe skin and eye irritation, painful blistering, permanent scarring and even blindness, according to the DEC. The plant can grow to 14 feet or more. Its hollow, ridged stems grow 2-4 inches in diameter and have dark reddish-purple blotches. Its large compound leaves can grow up to 5 feet wide. Its white flower heads can grow up to 2 1/2 feet in diameter, the DEC adds.
November 2023
Praise of the Humble Milkweed
When you say “milkweed” most people think “Monarch Butterflies.” This is fine, but milkweed impacts far more than Monarchs, and this is a plea to consider adding some variety your own yard. Yes, milkweed is underappreciated and needs our help. There’s an impressive field of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) on Lake Avenue in Greenlawn just north of the train tracks. The other side of the street is where a neighborhood of large houses was built recently, the predominant species in the uncultivated area seems to be mug wort. Common milkweed is capable of colonizing disturbed land that way, but most of the other 90 North American species need our help. Asclepias are incredibly complex, comparable to orchids.
Farming has contributed to a 60% decrease in population since the 1990s, in large part to the herbicides that target them and other “weeds.” Yet milkweed supports a diverse ecosystem well beyond the iconic Monarch.
Milkweed is called that because of the sticky white secretions it produces. It is toxic to many vertebrates which is why deer avoid it. Yet that chemical defense is imparted to many of the species that feed on it. Monarch larvae rely on Asclepias as an obligate host plant, or a food required for at least one stage of development. Eating it fosters an anti-predation chemical defense of their own. Female Monarchs can smell milkweed and choose it to lay their eggs, knowing the offspring will be protected against predators. At least 40 insect species feed often or exclusively on North American milkweeds in the summer, including butterflies, moths, beetles and aphids.
“NO, not aphids!” I hear you say. No fear, as aphids provide food for beneficial insects like lady beetles and lacewing insects, which in turn are food for birds. And one of the most abundant milkweed-visiting aphids, the nonnative oleander aphid, is host-specific, meaning it doesn’t eat other plants. Other invertebrates, including slugs, snails and spider mites, may feast on milkweeds, too, as do some larger animals, like rabbits and ground squirrels, which are apparently resistant to poisoning.
There are many different varieties of milkweed that can grow in New York, some will look great in any garden. Here’s a site with detailed information, pictures and sources for seeds as you’re choosing what you’d like to add to your own garden: https://birdwatchinghq.com/milkweed-in-new-york/
Here’s a free link to a New York Times article about a group of people in NYC who are protecting milkweed from being mowed in places like the medians of highways! “By summer’s end, about 20 milkweed patches — some near big-box stores, dental practices and body-piercing parlors, and all near highways — were being protected.” It’s a fun and inspiring article. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/14/nyregion/to-save-monarch-butterflies-they-had-to-silence-the-lawn-mowers.html?unlocked_article_code=1.5Uw.XG5Z.lOPvmZraykSS&smid=url-share
One more tip about milkweed seeds. We think, ‘they’re a wild plant so we can just strew them around and they’ll grow in the spring.’ This is partially true, but remember, it’s a cold cruel world out there. Will the seeds be in the right spot? Will it be dry or wet? Will they be eaten by a voracious creature, like squirrels? Common milkweed is the most forgiving, but even that is not guaranteed to survive. The surest way to ensure the seeds sprout and survive is to start them indoors yourself. Since they require stratification, here’s a step-by-step guide: https://www.wildflower.org/learn/how-to/how-to-germinate-milkweeds
When you say “milkweed” most people think “Monarch Butterflies.” This is fine, but milkweed impacts far more than Monarchs, and this is a plea to consider adding some variety your own yard. Yes, milkweed is underappreciated and needs our help. There’s an impressive field of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) on Lake Avenue in Greenlawn just north of the train tracks. The other side of the street is where a neighborhood of large houses was built recently, the predominant species in the uncultivated area seems to be mug wort. Common milkweed is capable of colonizing disturbed land that way, but most of the other 90 North American species need our help. Asclepias are incredibly complex, comparable to orchids.
Farming has contributed to a 60% decrease in population since the 1990s, in large part to the herbicides that target them and other “weeds.” Yet milkweed supports a diverse ecosystem well beyond the iconic Monarch.
Milkweed is called that because of the sticky white secretions it produces. It is toxic to many vertebrates which is why deer avoid it. Yet that chemical defense is imparted to many of the species that feed on it. Monarch larvae rely on Asclepias as an obligate host plant, or a food required for at least one stage of development. Eating it fosters an anti-predation chemical defense of their own. Female Monarchs can smell milkweed and choose it to lay their eggs, knowing the offspring will be protected against predators. At least 40 insect species feed often or exclusively on North American milkweeds in the summer, including butterflies, moths, beetles and aphids.
“NO, not aphids!” I hear you say. No fear, as aphids provide food for beneficial insects like lady beetles and lacewing insects, which in turn are food for birds. And one of the most abundant milkweed-visiting aphids, the nonnative oleander aphid, is host-specific, meaning it doesn’t eat other plants. Other invertebrates, including slugs, snails and spider mites, may feast on milkweeds, too, as do some larger animals, like rabbits and ground squirrels, which are apparently resistant to poisoning.
There are many different varieties of milkweed that can grow in New York, some will look great in any garden. Here’s a site with detailed information, pictures and sources for seeds as you’re choosing what you’d like to add to your own garden: https://birdwatchinghq.com/milkweed-in-new-york/
Here’s a free link to a New York Times article about a group of people in NYC who are protecting milkweed from being mowed in places like the medians of highways! “By summer’s end, about 20 milkweed patches — some near big-box stores, dental practices and body-piercing parlors, and all near highways — were being protected.” It’s a fun and inspiring article. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/14/nyregion/to-save-monarch-butterflies-they-had-to-silence-the-lawn-mowers.html?unlocked_article_code=1.5Uw.XG5Z.lOPvmZraykSS&smid=url-share
One more tip about milkweed seeds. We think, ‘they’re a wild plant so we can just strew them around and they’ll grow in the spring.’ This is partially true, but remember, it’s a cold cruel world out there. Will the seeds be in the right spot? Will it be dry or wet? Will they be eaten by a voracious creature, like squirrels? Common milkweed is the most forgiving, but even that is not guaranteed to survive. The surest way to ensure the seeds sprout and survive is to start them indoors yourself. Since they require stratification, here’s a step-by-step guide: https://www.wildflower.org/learn/how-to/how-to-germinate-milkweeds
October 2023
About Those Canadian Wildfires and How to Bring Back the Ice Age
That orange haze we experienced from the Canadian wildfires raises lots of questions. The news reports say “due to global warming” but is there more to the story? The New York Times ran an essay with a unique perspective. Thirty years ago, the author participated in a Canadian university students’ rite of passage. Planting saplings where logging companies had cut the land clear. It turns out the saplings they were planting were black spruce. Black spruces are highly combustible and in the right conditions burns like a blowtorch. In a naturally occurring forest, black spruce is mixed in with trees like aspen and poplar, which are full of moisture and provide a natural resistance to fire. But as a report by the Forest Practices Board of British Columbia pointed out, “Large homogeneous patches of forest are more likely to lead to large and severe wildfires.” The 6-foot spacing between each tree contributed to the severity. There were disastrous fires where black spruce had grown tall enough to create a canopy to kill off the feather moss that grew on the forest floor. That dry moss became another fire-starter. This pattern is expected to continue for the better part of this century.
Carbon sequestration is important to limit the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Forests are important carbon sinks, but when they burn, they produce the opposite effect. Canadian forests are one of the largest carbon storehouses in the world. The chart shows how the Canadian forests shifted from sequestration sources to CO2 emitters. “Any guesses on how many Canadian gasoline-burning cars we must take off the road to offset that much CO2? All of them. Plus all our heavy-duty freight trucks and every other form of fossil-fueled road transport. Oh, and we also must stop burning natural gas in every Canadian home.” https://thebulletin.org/2023/08/managed-to-death-how-canada-turned-its-forests-into-a-carbon-bomb/
As you can see, banning everything is not the solution. One of the best options is to find ways to sequester or somehow remove the CO2 in the atmosphere. Most of the most effective versions are limited in potential scalability. As crazy as it might sound, geoengineering the oceans by adding iron — in effect, fertilizing them — may offer the best, most effective and most affordable way not just to slow the march of global warming but to reverse its course by directly drawing carbon out of the atmosphere. Here’s how it works: Iron-rich dust blows off the land and into the seas, fertilizing algae, and plankton. The more they grow, the more they convert carbon dioxide in the air to organic carbon, some of which eventually sinks to the watery depths. Studies suggest that this natural process of increasing iron-rich dust in the oceans takes so much carbon out of the atmosphere that at some point along the way it may have helped bring on the ice ages. https://www.almendron.com/tribuna/iron-dust-could-reverse-the-course-of-climate-change/
That orange haze we experienced from the Canadian wildfires raises lots of questions. The news reports say “due to global warming” but is there more to the story? The New York Times ran an essay with a unique perspective. Thirty years ago, the author participated in a Canadian university students’ rite of passage. Planting saplings where logging companies had cut the land clear. It turns out the saplings they were planting were black spruce. Black spruces are highly combustible and in the right conditions burns like a blowtorch. In a naturally occurring forest, black spruce is mixed in with trees like aspen and poplar, which are full of moisture and provide a natural resistance to fire. But as a report by the Forest Practices Board of British Columbia pointed out, “Large homogeneous patches of forest are more likely to lead to large and severe wildfires.” The 6-foot spacing between each tree contributed to the severity. There were disastrous fires where black spruce had grown tall enough to create a canopy to kill off the feather moss that grew on the forest floor. That dry moss became another fire-starter. This pattern is expected to continue for the better part of this century.
Carbon sequestration is important to limit the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Forests are important carbon sinks, but when they burn, they produce the opposite effect. Canadian forests are one of the largest carbon storehouses in the world. The chart shows how the Canadian forests shifted from sequestration sources to CO2 emitters. “Any guesses on how many Canadian gasoline-burning cars we must take off the road to offset that much CO2? All of them. Plus all our heavy-duty freight trucks and every other form of fossil-fueled road transport. Oh, and we also must stop burning natural gas in every Canadian home.” https://thebulletin.org/2023/08/managed-to-death-how-canada-turned-its-forests-into-a-carbon-bomb/
As you can see, banning everything is not the solution. One of the best options is to find ways to sequester or somehow remove the CO2 in the atmosphere. Most of the most effective versions are limited in potential scalability. As crazy as it might sound, geoengineering the oceans by adding iron — in effect, fertilizing them — may offer the best, most effective and most affordable way not just to slow the march of global warming but to reverse its course by directly drawing carbon out of the atmosphere. Here’s how it works: Iron-rich dust blows off the land and into the seas, fertilizing algae, and plankton. The more they grow, the more they convert carbon dioxide in the air to organic carbon, some of which eventually sinks to the watery depths. Studies suggest that this natural process of increasing iron-rich dust in the oceans takes so much carbon out of the atmosphere that at some point along the way it may have helped bring on the ice ages. https://www.almendron.com/tribuna/iron-dust-could-reverse-the-course-of-climate-change/
Don’t Microwave Plastic!
Some of you may know that I have a background in developing food wraps, including plastic wrap. I have always known that pretty much every form of plastic can transfer its components into any food it is in contact with, Europeans knew that in the 1980s. The issue is that heating plastic excites the molecules and they transfer into anything they touch. Even if you are storing food in plastic containers in the refrigerator or freezer, nano plastics and microplastics do transfer into your food. There is strong evidence these particles cause a variety of health issues; they can even help transport other pollutants into our bodily systems. We don’t know how much is stored in the body, and how much we eliminate. If you can’t change all your storage to glass, try to choose those with numbers 2 and 5 as they may be safer. Here’s what the numbers mean:
Plastic isn’t just plastic containers. Those paper cups you get your hot coffee in are lined with plastic and most of your canned food tins are lined with plastic. It’s hard to escape.
Fortunately, scientists are developing all kinds of new plastic replacements from natural substances. They will be biodegradable and more inert. We hope. In the meantime, some of the challenges of bioplastics include mushroom packaging faces issues with scaling up production, seaweed packaging requires efficient sourcing and processing methods, PLA plastics demand specific composting facilities, bagasse packaging may lack water resistance, and chitosan-based films can have higher production costs and water sensitivity. As science continues to focus on these products, more options will be discovered.
Some of you may know that I have a background in developing food wraps, including plastic wrap. I have always known that pretty much every form of plastic can transfer its components into any food it is in contact with, Europeans knew that in the 1980s. The issue is that heating plastic excites the molecules and they transfer into anything they touch. Even if you are storing food in plastic containers in the refrigerator or freezer, nano plastics and microplastics do transfer into your food. There is strong evidence these particles cause a variety of health issues; they can even help transport other pollutants into our bodily systems. We don’t know how much is stored in the body, and how much we eliminate. If you can’t change all your storage to glass, try to choose those with numbers 2 and 5 as they may be safer. Here’s what the numbers mean:
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE): a semi-rigid plastic typically deployed as soda bottles, peanut butter jars, and clothing fibers.
- High density polyethylene (HDPE): the most commonly used plastic type. Find it in your detergent containers, milk jugs, and protein powder tubs.
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): a versatile plastic (that may contain phthalates) used across industries, such as health care, construction, and fashion. Find it in plumbing pipes, shower curtains, medical blood bags, and synthetic leather.
- Low density polyethylene (LDPE): a super flexible, usually transparent plastic used to make shopping bags, cling wrap, and juice bottles.
- Polypropylene (PP): a tough, moldable type of plastic usually marketed as heat resistant or microwave safe. It’s used to make food storage containers, baby bottles, toys, and more.
- Polystyrene (PS): the usually foamy type of lightweight plastic that can melt at high temperatures. Find it in some disposable food containers, packing peanuts, and the meat aisle of your local grocery store.
- Other: This mishmash includes polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass, and nylon. Plastics in this broad category may contain bisphenols and could include five-gallon water cooler jugs, some citrus juice and ketchup bottles, as well as produce clamshells.
Plastic isn’t just plastic containers. Those paper cups you get your hot coffee in are lined with plastic and most of your canned food tins are lined with plastic. It’s hard to escape.
Fortunately, scientists are developing all kinds of new plastic replacements from natural substances. They will be biodegradable and more inert. We hope. In the meantime, some of the challenges of bioplastics include mushroom packaging faces issues with scaling up production, seaweed packaging requires efficient sourcing and processing methods, PLA plastics demand specific composting facilities, bagasse packaging may lack water resistance, and chitosan-based films can have higher production costs and water sensitivity. As science continues to focus on these products, more options will be discovered.
September 2023
So You Think You’re Saving the Environment By … (and other myths)
Buying Organic Cotton (bags, shirts, etc.) Nope. Conventional cotton has been genetically engineered to increase yields and decrease the need for water. Plus, without pesticides, more of the crop is lost to pest damage. Organic cotton is 20,000 times more resource-intensive than a single use plastic bag. If you used your organic cotton bag twice a week for the rest of your life, it’d be worth it after 192 years.
What About Other Tote Bags? As it turns out, It takes exponentially more resources to make a tote bag compared to the cheap polyethylene. The report analyzed how many times you’d need to use each type of bag to equal the environmental impact of a plastic one. Paper bags, and plastic-based reusable totes, required between 35 and 85 re-uses. A cotton tote, though, had to be used 7,100 times to make up for the resources that went into it. Not as bad as the organic cotton one, but not good.
Bamboo Fabrics. So bamboo grows fast and doesn’t require fertilizers or pesticides. But the energy-intensive processes required to turn bamboo into something we can use means the bamboo isn’t biodegradable and it loses its antimicrobial properties.
Recycling Everything. Wishful or aspirational recycling Although recycling centers do have ways of sorting recyclables from non-recyclables — called residuals — you’re just making more work for them. And recycling centers still have to deal with your trash.
Buying Sustainable Goods when you already have something at home. Are you going to throw out the plastic utensils so you can replace them with bamboo? If you already have 5 water bottles, do you need to buy another? It takes resources to make even sustainable items.
Assuming Anything Vegan, Organic, Local or Non-GMO is Environmentally Innocent. It does take more than a gallon of water to grow one almond for your almond milk. Dairy milk is still worse but doesn’t have to be as processed, so it might be a toss-up. Buying local is great, but if you have to make a special trip to get to the farm stand or the farmer has to transport his goods to the farmers market, the carbon footprint per tomato might be more than the huge trucks transporting mega quantities.
Ride Shares. UBER and LYFT aren’t much different from a taxi that is constantly driving hoping for a fare.
You Switch All Your Incandescent Light Bulbs to LEDs and then leave them on rather than turning them off when you're not using them. Or you buy a hybrid car and drive it more than your old gas-powered car. You’re still using electricity and resources because you think you can because the devices use less energy.
Around the world: In India they are replacing the plastic teacups sold at train stations with clay ones. Even if only a third of the 23 million train passengers each day buy tea, the amount of soil being dug and the energy and pollution from firing all those cups in coal-powered furnaces can make your head spin. Many countries do not consider the circular economy when considering ways to reduce pollution and their carbon footprint.
The Surprising Sources of Microplastics in the Air
Even the most remote and isolated locations have microplastics. Scientists recently studied what types of plastics are in the air in the Arctic. Most of it is polyester, likely from clothing. But there are also a lot of tire wear particles and even chemicals such as polyurethanes and epoxy resins typically used in paints and coatings for ships were also found in the air samples.
What does this mean for us? Some of the possible effects of microplastics include absorbing solar radiation in both air and water to contribute to a warmer atmosphere. The good news is researchers are looking for ways to capture most of the microplastics. It’s impossible to stop making them, but maybe they’ll be able to remove them. https://scitechdaily.com/pollution-solution-new-device-can-capture-99-9-of-microplastics-in-water-using-wood-dust/#google_vignette
Fun Fact: If you’re bothered by wasps in your garden, lay out cucumber peelings. Apparently there’s a chemical in the peel that repels wasps. https://www.housedigest.com/1360251/slice-cucumber-hack-keep-wasps-out-garden-pest/
Interesting links:
A Finnish company is making use of a paper and cardboard manufacturing byproduct as a natural and renewable substitute for fossil fuel oil https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-examples/substitution-to-reduce-emissions-forchem
Can blocking the sun cool the environment? https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/07/05/sun-blockers-us-scientists-aim-to-cool-the-earth-by-reflecting-sunlight-into-space And other geo-engineering ideas: https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2022/reversing-climate-change-with-geoengineering/
Lab-created spider silk, a future with many possibilities. https://phys.org/news/2022-10-re-spun-silkworm-silk-stronger-spider.html
https://www.interpack.com/en/Media_News/Tightly_Packed_Magazine/FOOD_INDUSTRY_PACKAGING/News/Weaving_a_web_for_the_future
Buying Organic Cotton (bags, shirts, etc.) Nope. Conventional cotton has been genetically engineered to increase yields and decrease the need for water. Plus, without pesticides, more of the crop is lost to pest damage. Organic cotton is 20,000 times more resource-intensive than a single use plastic bag. If you used your organic cotton bag twice a week for the rest of your life, it’d be worth it after 192 years.
What About Other Tote Bags? As it turns out, It takes exponentially more resources to make a tote bag compared to the cheap polyethylene. The report analyzed how many times you’d need to use each type of bag to equal the environmental impact of a plastic one. Paper bags, and plastic-based reusable totes, required between 35 and 85 re-uses. A cotton tote, though, had to be used 7,100 times to make up for the resources that went into it. Not as bad as the organic cotton one, but not good.
Bamboo Fabrics. So bamboo grows fast and doesn’t require fertilizers or pesticides. But the energy-intensive processes required to turn bamboo into something we can use means the bamboo isn’t biodegradable and it loses its antimicrobial properties.
Recycling Everything. Wishful or aspirational recycling Although recycling centers do have ways of sorting recyclables from non-recyclables — called residuals — you’re just making more work for them. And recycling centers still have to deal with your trash.
Buying Sustainable Goods when you already have something at home. Are you going to throw out the plastic utensils so you can replace them with bamboo? If you already have 5 water bottles, do you need to buy another? It takes resources to make even sustainable items.
Assuming Anything Vegan, Organic, Local or Non-GMO is Environmentally Innocent. It does take more than a gallon of water to grow one almond for your almond milk. Dairy milk is still worse but doesn’t have to be as processed, so it might be a toss-up. Buying local is great, but if you have to make a special trip to get to the farm stand or the farmer has to transport his goods to the farmers market, the carbon footprint per tomato might be more than the huge trucks transporting mega quantities.
Ride Shares. UBER and LYFT aren’t much different from a taxi that is constantly driving hoping for a fare.
You Switch All Your Incandescent Light Bulbs to LEDs and then leave them on rather than turning them off when you're not using them. Or you buy a hybrid car and drive it more than your old gas-powered car. You’re still using electricity and resources because you think you can because the devices use less energy.
Around the world: In India they are replacing the plastic teacups sold at train stations with clay ones. Even if only a third of the 23 million train passengers each day buy tea, the amount of soil being dug and the energy and pollution from firing all those cups in coal-powered furnaces can make your head spin. Many countries do not consider the circular economy when considering ways to reduce pollution and their carbon footprint.
The Surprising Sources of Microplastics in the Air
Even the most remote and isolated locations have microplastics. Scientists recently studied what types of plastics are in the air in the Arctic. Most of it is polyester, likely from clothing. But there are also a lot of tire wear particles and even chemicals such as polyurethanes and epoxy resins typically used in paints and coatings for ships were also found in the air samples.
What does this mean for us? Some of the possible effects of microplastics include absorbing solar radiation in both air and water to contribute to a warmer atmosphere. The good news is researchers are looking for ways to capture most of the microplastics. It’s impossible to stop making them, but maybe they’ll be able to remove them. https://scitechdaily.com/pollution-solution-new-device-can-capture-99-9-of-microplastics-in-water-using-wood-dust/#google_vignette
Fun Fact: If you’re bothered by wasps in your garden, lay out cucumber peelings. Apparently there’s a chemical in the peel that repels wasps. https://www.housedigest.com/1360251/slice-cucumber-hack-keep-wasps-out-garden-pest/
Interesting links:
A Finnish company is making use of a paper and cardboard manufacturing byproduct as a natural and renewable substitute for fossil fuel oil https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-examples/substitution-to-reduce-emissions-forchem
Can blocking the sun cool the environment? https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/07/05/sun-blockers-us-scientists-aim-to-cool-the-earth-by-reflecting-sunlight-into-space And other geo-engineering ideas: https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2022/reversing-climate-change-with-geoengineering/
Lab-created spider silk, a future with many possibilities. https://phys.org/news/2022-10-re-spun-silkworm-silk-stronger-spider.html
https://www.interpack.com/en/Media_News/Tightly_Packed_Magazine/FOOD_INDUSTRY_PACKAGING/News/Weaving_a_web_for_the_future
August 2023
Recycling Education a Failure?
We’ve talked about “wishful recycling” where people put things out for recycling in the hope that they will get recycled. Lightbulbs, disposable cups, plastic bags, hangars, window glass. People try so hard to do the right thing. Often these items end up contaminating an entire load of recycled material, so even real recyclables end up being transported to the incinerator. Only 9% of all the plastic ever produced has been recycled. But it’s really not the consumer’s fault, as manufacturers constantly remind us that we should recycle their products and packaging, and the government refers to “post consumer waste.” Rather the onus should be on those companies to produce items that can be recycled easily, take back their items for proper disposal or at least share in the cost of recycling what they sell. Consumers can’t be expected to shoulder all the blame for over-packaged unrecyclable items. Instead of reminding us to "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" creating items that can be recycled is better from a sustainability perspective than burning them in an incinerator or burying them in a landfill, but it still consumes energy and resources. In contrast, reducing waste generation conserves natural resources and avoids other negative environmental impacts throughout a product's life.
We’ve talked about “wishful recycling” where people put things out for recycling in the hope that they will get recycled. Lightbulbs, disposable cups, plastic bags, hangars, window glass. People try so hard to do the right thing. Often these items end up contaminating an entire load of recycled material, so even real recyclables end up being transported to the incinerator. Only 9% of all the plastic ever produced has been recycled. But it’s really not the consumer’s fault, as manufacturers constantly remind us that we should recycle their products and packaging, and the government refers to “post consumer waste.” Rather the onus should be on those companies to produce items that can be recycled easily, take back their items for proper disposal or at least share in the cost of recycling what they sell. Consumers can’t be expected to shoulder all the blame for over-packaged unrecyclable items. Instead of reminding us to "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" creating items that can be recycled is better from a sustainability perspective than burning them in an incinerator or burying them in a landfill, but it still consumes energy and resources. In contrast, reducing waste generation conserves natural resources and avoids other negative environmental impacts throughout a product's life.
Can White Paint Save the World?
In 2021 scientists at Purdue University developed a VERY white paint. It reflects about 98% of light. Beyond that, they suggest that if 1-2% of the earth’s surface was painted with this white paint it would be enough to stabilize global warming. If you’re interested in reading more about this: https://www.sciencealert.com/painting-2-of-earth-white-would-stop-global-warming-scientist-says
Mind your Eelgrass
Long Island’s primary seagrass is called eelgrass. In one way or another, it supports most of our local sea life, from sea turtles and waterfowl to scallops and everything in between. You may have read how they are trying to restore seagrass meadows off the coast of Florida, because their depletion has contributed to the enormous flooding seen in the past hurricane season. On Long Island, we also should be concerned about how eelgrass can protect our coastline by absorbing wave energy and reducing erosion. And as I’ve mentioned here before, they also store carbon, which helps to mitigate climate change.
There are projects to farm seaweed and eelgrass to produce biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and other products. As a valuable source of food for humans. Many of us are boating, and we can protect our local eelgrass by: anchoring outside of eelgrass beds and avoiding those areas when possible, slow down in shallow areas and obey “no wake” zones, trim the engine up in shallow water to lessen the effect of propeller wash on the bottom and use shore based restrooms and pump-out facilities. If you’re shell fishing, try to avoid digging up the eelgrass, but if you do, try to tap the roots back down so it can re-establish.
In general, keep trash and pollutants out of the estuary. Never pour chemicals into storm drains, because ultimately they will end up in the bay or sound. Clean up oil and fuel spills before they get into the water. Recycle used oil, filters, batteries and antifreeze. Use fertilizers and pesticides carefully and try to use environmentally-friendly options. Wash your car on your lawn or at a car wash. When you wash your car in your driveway, the excess soap can end up running down storm drains and ultimately in our local waterways.
While a bit out of date, and very technical, Cornell’s Cooperative Extension site is comprehensive: http://www.seagrassli.org/
In 2021 scientists at Purdue University developed a VERY white paint. It reflects about 98% of light. Beyond that, they suggest that if 1-2% of the earth’s surface was painted with this white paint it would be enough to stabilize global warming. If you’re interested in reading more about this: https://www.sciencealert.com/painting-2-of-earth-white-would-stop-global-warming-scientist-says
Mind your Eelgrass
Long Island’s primary seagrass is called eelgrass. In one way or another, it supports most of our local sea life, from sea turtles and waterfowl to scallops and everything in between. You may have read how they are trying to restore seagrass meadows off the coast of Florida, because their depletion has contributed to the enormous flooding seen in the past hurricane season. On Long Island, we also should be concerned about how eelgrass can protect our coastline by absorbing wave energy and reducing erosion. And as I’ve mentioned here before, they also store carbon, which helps to mitigate climate change.
There are projects to farm seaweed and eelgrass to produce biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and other products. As a valuable source of food for humans. Many of us are boating, and we can protect our local eelgrass by: anchoring outside of eelgrass beds and avoiding those areas when possible, slow down in shallow areas and obey “no wake” zones, trim the engine up in shallow water to lessen the effect of propeller wash on the bottom and use shore based restrooms and pump-out facilities. If you’re shell fishing, try to avoid digging up the eelgrass, but if you do, try to tap the roots back down so it can re-establish.
In general, keep trash and pollutants out of the estuary. Never pour chemicals into storm drains, because ultimately they will end up in the bay or sound. Clean up oil and fuel spills before they get into the water. Recycle used oil, filters, batteries and antifreeze. Use fertilizers and pesticides carefully and try to use environmentally-friendly options. Wash your car on your lawn or at a car wash. When you wash your car in your driveway, the excess soap can end up running down storm drains and ultimately in our local waterways.
While a bit out of date, and very technical, Cornell’s Cooperative Extension site is comprehensive: http://www.seagrassli.org/
July 2023
Toilet Paper Part 2: The Issue with Tissue
As a follow-up to last month’s TP blurb, here is a checklist of how environmentally-friendly your TP brands are. Every year Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) releases a scorecard rating 60 brands, rewarding them for using recycled or bamboo fibers and not using chemicals. The four “winners” were Green Forest, Natural Value, Trader Joe’s, and 365 Everyday Value, 100% Recycled. Not surprisingly, big-name brands received failing grades. Charmin, Amazon Basics, Cottonelle Ultra, Angel Soft, and Scott 1000 received an F. Angel Soft and Amazon Basics received the lowest possible score of zero out of 600 for using entirely virgin fiber, which results in deforestation, and bleaching that results in the pollution of chlorine gas. Here’s the link to the report card, there’s a bonus paper towels rating included: https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/issue-with-tissue-2022-scorecard.pdf
As a follow-up to last month’s TP blurb, here is a checklist of how environmentally-friendly your TP brands are. Every year Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) releases a scorecard rating 60 brands, rewarding them for using recycled or bamboo fibers and not using chemicals. The four “winners” were Green Forest, Natural Value, Trader Joe’s, and 365 Everyday Value, 100% Recycled. Not surprisingly, big-name brands received failing grades. Charmin, Amazon Basics, Cottonelle Ultra, Angel Soft, and Scott 1000 received an F. Angel Soft and Amazon Basics received the lowest possible score of zero out of 600 for using entirely virgin fiber, which results in deforestation, and bleaching that results in the pollution of chlorine gas. Here’s the link to the report card, there’s a bonus paper towels rating included: https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/issue-with-tissue-2022-scorecard.pdf
Wherefore Art Thou, Firefly?
As I write this in mid-June I look outside for a familiar site, but I don’t see any fireflies yet. I wonder if everyone around here is missing them, or whether I should blame it on my next door neighbor who lights his house like the hospital in which he works. Scientists don’t know exactly why fireflies are disappearing, but light pollution is a factor. Fireflies use their flashing lights to communicate, to find mates, defend their territory, etc. Habitat loss and overuse of pesticides likely contribute to the loss, too. If you’re interested in learning more about fireflies, this site is a delightful resource
https://www.firefly.org/
As I write this in mid-June I look outside for a familiar site, but I don’t see any fireflies yet. I wonder if everyone around here is missing them, or whether I should blame it on my next door neighbor who lights his house like the hospital in which he works. Scientists don’t know exactly why fireflies are disappearing, but light pollution is a factor. Fireflies use their flashing lights to communicate, to find mates, defend their territory, etc. Habitat loss and overuse of pesticides likely contribute to the loss, too. If you’re interested in learning more about fireflies, this site is a delightful resource
https://www.firefly.org/
The Best Way to Control Ticks
Hint: it’s not spraying a pesticide all over your yard. The CDC has developed Tick Bait Boxes which can cut the number of ticks in a yard 80-97% over a two-year period. Installed by professionals, they are boxes about the size of a child’s shoe box. They contain bait to attract mice, chipmunks, voles which are more likely to spread ticks than deer. While they pass through the box to get the bait, there is a little wick that brushes a low-dose insecticide (fipronil) onto the mouse. It’s harmless to mice, but any tick that attaches to the mouse is killed. It’s the same chemical used on our dogs and cats, but an even lower dose. In May, the boxes kill off nymphs, young poppy-seed-sized ticks that seek blood meals from mice, household pets, and humans. In late July and early August, they kill larvae, newly hatched tick offspring about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Larvae are known to latch onto mice in droves (one mouse can carry 300 to 400 tick larvae), seeking both food and shelter. Deploying tick bait boxes can run upwards of $800 a year. Consumer Reports has some other tips for keeping ticks at bay in your yard: https://www.consumerreports.org/pest-control/tickproof-your-yard-without-spraying-a2432924927/
Hint: it’s not spraying a pesticide all over your yard. The CDC has developed Tick Bait Boxes which can cut the number of ticks in a yard 80-97% over a two-year period. Installed by professionals, they are boxes about the size of a child’s shoe box. They contain bait to attract mice, chipmunks, voles which are more likely to spread ticks than deer. While they pass through the box to get the bait, there is a little wick that brushes a low-dose insecticide (fipronil) onto the mouse. It’s harmless to mice, but any tick that attaches to the mouse is killed. It’s the same chemical used on our dogs and cats, but an even lower dose. In May, the boxes kill off nymphs, young poppy-seed-sized ticks that seek blood meals from mice, household pets, and humans. In late July and early August, they kill larvae, newly hatched tick offspring about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Larvae are known to latch onto mice in droves (one mouse can carry 300 to 400 tick larvae), seeking both food and shelter. Deploying tick bait boxes can run upwards of $800 a year. Consumer Reports has some other tips for keeping ticks at bay in your yard: https://www.consumerreports.org/pest-control/tickproof-your-yard-without-spraying-a2432924927/
Galvorn - It’s not made by elves
There’s a new material that’s been developed with investment from NASA, the Air Force, the Department of Energy and others. It’s straight out of science fiction and appears it may offer endless potential. https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/galvorn-material-conductivity-steel-electronics-copper/
There’s a new material that’s been developed with investment from NASA, the Air Force, the Department of Energy and others. It’s straight out of science fiction and appears it may offer endless potential. https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/galvorn-material-conductivity-steel-electronics-copper/
June 2023
Toilet Paper has Dirty Secrets
We can’t live without it. Remember the hoarding during Covid? So much panicking that we might run out. But … is TP something we really should be using? We’ve been hearing about PFAS, those damaging “forever chemicals” which contain compounds that have been linked to low birthweight, kidney cancer, increased cholesterol levels and a slew of other health issues. And you’ll find a teaspoon or so worth in each roll of bathroom tissue.While these chemicals may not be bad for us, what passes into the environment via wastewater is a concern. Manufacturing TP requires an estimated 31.1 million trees each year to meet the demands for TP in the United States alone, each roll requires 37 gallons of water; in the US we use 36 billion rolls a year if you want to do the math. Do we have alternatives? An obvious one is bidets, unappreciated in the US, but praised by many. There are also toilet papers made from recycled paper, bamboo, non-disposable cloth and other choices. Here are some alternatives: https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/toilet-paper-alternatives/
We can’t live without it. Remember the hoarding during Covid? So much panicking that we might run out. But … is TP something we really should be using? We’ve been hearing about PFAS, those damaging “forever chemicals” which contain compounds that have been linked to low birthweight, kidney cancer, increased cholesterol levels and a slew of other health issues. And you’ll find a teaspoon or so worth in each roll of bathroom tissue.While these chemicals may not be bad for us, what passes into the environment via wastewater is a concern. Manufacturing TP requires an estimated 31.1 million trees each year to meet the demands for TP in the United States alone, each roll requires 37 gallons of water; in the US we use 36 billion rolls a year if you want to do the math. Do we have alternatives? An obvious one is bidets, unappreciated in the US, but praised by many. There are also toilet papers made from recycled paper, bamboo, non-disposable cloth and other choices. Here are some alternatives: https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/toilet-paper-alternatives/
Recycling with Artificial Intelligence
AI is a hot news topic these days. I even wrote much of last month’s column using AI. The good news is there are multiple companies creating robots powered by AI that can sort recycling. Currently our local items being recycled are dumped on a conveyor belt and people use sticks to push the items around to sort them. Highly inefficient. Bring in the AI powered robots which have the potential to dramatically improve recycling capability, some have 90%+ accuracy. See them in action, it’s pretty cool: https://endwaste.io/ https://www.amprobotics.com/ https://www.machinexrecycling.com/en/sorting/equipment/samurai-sorting-robot/ https://cleanrobotics.com/
AI is a hot news topic these days. I even wrote much of last month’s column using AI. The good news is there are multiple companies creating robots powered by AI that can sort recycling. Currently our local items being recycled are dumped on a conveyor belt and people use sticks to push the items around to sort them. Highly inefficient. Bring in the AI powered robots which have the potential to dramatically improve recycling capability, some have 90%+ accuracy. See them in action, it’s pretty cool: https://endwaste.io/ https://www.amprobotics.com/ https://www.machinexrecycling.com/en/sorting/equipment/samurai-sorting-robot/ https://cleanrobotics.com/
A Weighty Subject
The parking garage in Manhattan that collapsed highlighted another issue with EVs that hasn't been widely discussed. These darn things weigh a ton. Actually several tons. The Hummer EV tops 8,000 lbs. Every EV weighs more than its comparable gas counterparts. Most infrastructure was designed with a calculation based on average vehicle weight. Roads, bridges, parking garages will all be under greater stress and wear out sooner. My own scary mind wonders if the parking garage at IKEA would be able to support the weight of several semi trailers or just a bunch of EVs that weigh the same amount. How much more quickly will our roads deteriorate? The stopping distance for these heavyweights is greater, many have a higher profile which may dramatically change NTSB safety ratings. An article out of England suggests that this misnomer of “zero emission vehicle” does not take into consideration the other pollution that vehicles cause, in particular tire pollution. Particulate matter can increase heart disease and lung cancer; the heavier vehicles are causing more tire particles to enter the air we breathe. This is reminiscent of a time when we were encouraged to drive diesel vehicles because they spewed less carbon dioxide. Sadly, they emitted more nitrogen dioxides and the push to drive diesel quietly went away. (Nitrogen dioxide is a major component of smog and is the product of a variety of sources, interestingly food manufacturing businesses and high rise buildings, according to this report by NASA https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/151005/nitrogen-dioxide-in-the-neighborhood) Finally, an interview with the CEO of Ford on why bigger, heavier batteries are not sustainable. https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/22/23733215/ford-ev-battery-size-weight-safety-jim-farley
The parking garage in Manhattan that collapsed highlighted another issue with EVs that hasn't been widely discussed. These darn things weigh a ton. Actually several tons. The Hummer EV tops 8,000 lbs. Every EV weighs more than its comparable gas counterparts. Most infrastructure was designed with a calculation based on average vehicle weight. Roads, bridges, parking garages will all be under greater stress and wear out sooner. My own scary mind wonders if the parking garage at IKEA would be able to support the weight of several semi trailers or just a bunch of EVs that weigh the same amount. How much more quickly will our roads deteriorate? The stopping distance for these heavyweights is greater, many have a higher profile which may dramatically change NTSB safety ratings. An article out of England suggests that this misnomer of “zero emission vehicle” does not take into consideration the other pollution that vehicles cause, in particular tire pollution. Particulate matter can increase heart disease and lung cancer; the heavier vehicles are causing more tire particles to enter the air we breathe. This is reminiscent of a time when we were encouraged to drive diesel vehicles because they spewed less carbon dioxide. Sadly, they emitted more nitrogen dioxides and the push to drive diesel quietly went away. (Nitrogen dioxide is a major component of smog and is the product of a variety of sources, interestingly food manufacturing businesses and high rise buildings, according to this report by NASA https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/151005/nitrogen-dioxide-in-the-neighborhood) Finally, an interview with the CEO of Ford on why bigger, heavier batteries are not sustainable. https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/22/23733215/ford-ev-battery-size-weight-safety-jim-farley
May 2023
The Future of Battery Sustainability
Americans spend trillions of dollars on electronics and discard hundreds of millions of devices each year. Very few of these products are recycled responsibly.
JB Straubel, co-founder of Tesla and former CTO of the company, is a strong advocate for battery recycling. He believes that battery recycling is essential for the transition to a clean energy future. He argues that we cannot simply keep mining new materials to make batteries. Mining can have a significant environmental impact, and it is also a finite resource. Battery recycling, on the other hand, can help to close the loop on these materials and keep them in use for as long as possible. Straubel is the CEO of Redwood Materials, a battery recycling company that he founded in 2019. Redwood is building a network of battery recycling facilities in the United States, the first of which is in Nevada. The company's goal is to recycle 100% of the batteries that it collects. He believes that battery recycling is a key part of the solution to the climate crisis and says that "if we want to get to a zero-emissions future, we need to recycle batteries." Redwood Materials is one of a number of companies that are working to develop new battery recycling technologies.
These companies are working to make battery recycling more efficient and cost-effective. As these technologies continue to develop, battery recycling is likely to become an increasingly important part of the global economy. (written by Bard, an AI from Google) More insight: Redwood Materials: https://www.redwoodmaterials.com/; AAA looks at the whole EV picture https://magazine.northeast.aaa.com/daily/life/cars-trucks/electric-vehicles/are-electric-car-batteries-bad-for-the-environment/
Americans spend trillions of dollars on electronics and discard hundreds of millions of devices each year. Very few of these products are recycled responsibly.
JB Straubel, co-founder of Tesla and former CTO of the company, is a strong advocate for battery recycling. He believes that battery recycling is essential for the transition to a clean energy future. He argues that we cannot simply keep mining new materials to make batteries. Mining can have a significant environmental impact, and it is also a finite resource. Battery recycling, on the other hand, can help to close the loop on these materials and keep them in use for as long as possible. Straubel is the CEO of Redwood Materials, a battery recycling company that he founded in 2019. Redwood is building a network of battery recycling facilities in the United States, the first of which is in Nevada. The company's goal is to recycle 100% of the batteries that it collects. He believes that battery recycling is a key part of the solution to the climate crisis and says that "if we want to get to a zero-emissions future, we need to recycle batteries." Redwood Materials is one of a number of companies that are working to develop new battery recycling technologies.
These companies are working to make battery recycling more efficient and cost-effective. As these technologies continue to develop, battery recycling is likely to become an increasingly important part of the global economy. (written by Bard, an AI from Google) More insight: Redwood Materials: https://www.redwoodmaterials.com/; AAA looks at the whole EV picture https://magazine.northeast.aaa.com/daily/life/cars-trucks/electric-vehicles/are-electric-car-batteries-bad-for-the-environment/
What Ever Happened to that Bridge?
You know the bridge, some still call it the Tappan Zee, others by its new name The Governor Mario Cuomo Bridge. Some combine the two names. Regardless, the old one was knocked down and a new one was opened. The steel and concrete from the old bridge became artificial reefs for marine life. If you’re interested in learning more: https://westchester.news12.com/tappan-zee-bridges-legacy-lives-on-off-the-coast-of-long-island
What’s Bugging You?
Remember to be on the alert for Spotted Lanternflies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87s1KYtPgWY&ab_channel=NYSDEC
It’s tick time. Long Island is home to 18 types of ticks which can harbor 13 different diseases. Here is some information about what to expect, and when, as well as how to protect yourself. https://www.silive.com/news/2023/04/will-nyc-see-an-extreme-tick-season-this-year-experts-weight-in.html
Microsoft Pays You for Your E-Waste
Microsoft will pay you for your old electronics, including phones, computers, tablets, and gaming consoles. You can get a quote for your device online, and once you're approved, you'll receive a prepaid shipping label. Simply pack up your device and send it to them, and they'll take care of the rest; they will either recycle your device or refurbish it for resale. If your device is recycled, the materials will be reused to create new products. If your device is refurbished, it will be sold to someone else who can use it.
By trading in your old electronics, you can help to reduce e-waste and conserve resources. You can also earn some extra cash to put towards a new device.
Here are the steps on how to trade in your old electronics with Microsoft:
- Go to the Microsoft trade-in website.
- Select the type of device you want to trade in.
- Answer a few questions about the condition of your device.
- Get a quote for your device.
- Pack up your device and ship it to Microsoft.
April 2023
Almost Everything You Want to Know About Composting
An average household throws out about two pounds of compostable material every day. Composting isn't something everyone wants to or is able to do. Unfortunately, we have no local community drop off locations for compostable items. It’s estimated that 56% of the 1,642 pounds of trash each of us produces each year could be composted. Many communities already pick up residential food scraps weekly for composting. Riverhead had a pilot program last fall and was looking for additional funding to expand it this year. Most of the communities that do the composting have an outside company manage the program. Here’s an example of one in upstate NY and New Jersey as reference: https://www.communitycompostco.com/ With all the resources we fund in Huntington, it’s sad this sort of thing is not one of them. (They do list all the things you can do to compost at home on the Town website, as if anyone reads it.)
If you are looking to do some home composting, pretty much everything you’ll want to know about it can be found here, including fact sheets and links to various additional resources: https://blogs.cornell.edu/healthysoils/compost/
Are you ready to compost this year? You might want to consider joining in the discussions on Reddit. Yes, it’s kind of a social media platform, but it has many useful communities with loads of helpful content. People post pictures or ask questions and get comments. In the Compost group you’ll find things like “Here’s a picture of some mold growing on my compost pile, what is it and is it bad?” Here are some of the garden-related communities:
Gardening https://www.reddit.com/r/gardening/ (5.3 million members)
Compost https://www.reddit.com/r/composting/
Native Plants https://www.reddit.com/r/NativePlantGardening/
Plant swapping https://www.reddit.com/r/plantswap/
Encouraging wildlife in your garden https://www.reddit.com/r/GardenWild/
An average household throws out about two pounds of compostable material every day. Composting isn't something everyone wants to or is able to do. Unfortunately, we have no local community drop off locations for compostable items. It’s estimated that 56% of the 1,642 pounds of trash each of us produces each year could be composted. Many communities already pick up residential food scraps weekly for composting. Riverhead had a pilot program last fall and was looking for additional funding to expand it this year. Most of the communities that do the composting have an outside company manage the program. Here’s an example of one in upstate NY and New Jersey as reference: https://www.communitycompostco.com/ With all the resources we fund in Huntington, it’s sad this sort of thing is not one of them. (They do list all the things you can do to compost at home on the Town website, as if anyone reads it.)
If you are looking to do some home composting, pretty much everything you’ll want to know about it can be found here, including fact sheets and links to various additional resources: https://blogs.cornell.edu/healthysoils/compost/
Are you ready to compost this year? You might want to consider joining in the discussions on Reddit. Yes, it’s kind of a social media platform, but it has many useful communities with loads of helpful content. People post pictures or ask questions and get comments. In the Compost group you’ll find things like “Here’s a picture of some mold growing on my compost pile, what is it and is it bad?” Here are some of the garden-related communities:
Gardening https://www.reddit.com/r/gardening/ (5.3 million members)
Compost https://www.reddit.com/r/composting/
Native Plants https://www.reddit.com/r/NativePlantGardening/
Plant swapping https://www.reddit.com/r/plantswap/
Encouraging wildlife in your garden https://www.reddit.com/r/GardenWild/
Compostable. Biodegradable. Is There a Difference?
Biodegradables are a confusing and misused term, but basically it is anything that is broken down by bacteria, fungi, and algae. “Quick” is not defined, but the breakdown is in less time than non-biodegradable products like plastic. Biodegradable objects can include papers, boxes, bags, that can slowly break down until they’re consumed on a microscopic level. They are not recommended for home composting. Compostables undergo degradation to yield CO2, water, inorganic compounds and biomass in about 90 days and leaves no visible, distinguishable or toxic residue. The difference is important because some plant-based plastics, for instance, might be able to biodegrade but they are not acceptable in compost. There are also differences between home composting and commercial composting. Some compostable products are not appropriate to put into your home compost bin because they will not provide nutrients to help plants grow.
Biodegradables are a confusing and misused term, but basically it is anything that is broken down by bacteria, fungi, and algae. “Quick” is not defined, but the breakdown is in less time than non-biodegradable products like plastic. Biodegradable objects can include papers, boxes, bags, that can slowly break down until they’re consumed on a microscopic level. They are not recommended for home composting. Compostables undergo degradation to yield CO2, water, inorganic compounds and biomass in about 90 days and leaves no visible, distinguishable or toxic residue. The difference is important because some plant-based plastics, for instance, might be able to biodegrade but they are not acceptable in compost. There are also differences between home composting and commercial composting. Some compostable products are not appropriate to put into your home compost bin because they will not provide nutrients to help plants grow.
What has Stunted the Growth of Your Plants?
Local stables are happy to give away what the horses poop out, each one delivers about 30 steamy pounds a day. But what the horse has eaten can cause problems for gardeners. Even if you are buying commercially processed manure or compost, you might find that your plants are not growing as vigorously as you’d expect. Maybe you mulched with straw and found a similar issue? The source might be that the hay the horses ate or the straw you mulched with might have been treated with herbicides. Commercial composts have different formulations for different uses. “No dig” gardening has become popular, but many composts (soil conditioners) need to be dug in. Look for ones specifically formulated for seed starting if that is your intention. You get what you pay for, so you also need to look at the contents of your bag of compost. Recently, producers have cut back on the amount of peat which may reduce the quality.
There’s a British gardener who has a fun YouTube channel. Charles Dowding is a proponent of “no dig” gardening, the images of his gardens are inspiring! This video shows the results of herbicide contamination in the manure he used in his garden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7vr-GlzuZs&ab_channel=CharlesDowding
Local stables are happy to give away what the horses poop out, each one delivers about 30 steamy pounds a day. But what the horse has eaten can cause problems for gardeners. Even if you are buying commercially processed manure or compost, you might find that your plants are not growing as vigorously as you’d expect. Maybe you mulched with straw and found a similar issue? The source might be that the hay the horses ate or the straw you mulched with might have been treated with herbicides. Commercial composts have different formulations for different uses. “No dig” gardening has become popular, but many composts (soil conditioners) need to be dug in. Look for ones specifically formulated for seed starting if that is your intention. You get what you pay for, so you also need to look at the contents of your bag of compost. Recently, producers have cut back on the amount of peat which may reduce the quality.
There’s a British gardener who has a fun YouTube channel. Charles Dowding is a proponent of “no dig” gardening, the images of his gardens are inspiring! This video shows the results of herbicide contamination in the manure he used in his garden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7vr-GlzuZs&ab_channel=CharlesDowding
Hugelculture
Hugelkulturs are no-dig raised beds with a difference. Proponents will tell you they allow you to row more in less space, water less (if at all), improve fertility and sequester carbon. They start with digging a pit and burying logs you have laying around that you’d like to dispose of. Then you build a mound that’s like lasagna gardening. If you’re interested in knowing more, here’s some information about how to build one and its benefits: https://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/the-many-benefits-of-hugelkultur/
This article takes a more scientific approach if you’re so inclined: https://earthundaunted.com/the-facts-about-hugelkultur-and-nitrogen-immobilization/
Hugelkulturs are no-dig raised beds with a difference. Proponents will tell you they allow you to row more in less space, water less (if at all), improve fertility and sequester carbon. They start with digging a pit and burying logs you have laying around that you’d like to dispose of. Then you build a mound that’s like lasagna gardening. If you’re interested in knowing more, here’s some information about how to build one and its benefits: https://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/the-many-benefits-of-hugelkultur/
This article takes a more scientific approach if you’re so inclined: https://earthundaunted.com/the-facts-about-hugelkultur-and-nitrogen-immobilization/
March 2023
“There's a great future in plastics. Think about it.” ~~ The Graduate (1967)
Back in the first half of the 20th Century, things made of plastic were considered cheap and flimsy. Then things changed as technology improved. Today, nearly everything contains some plastic components. Challenge yourself to go a day without using or touching anything with plastics. A journalist for the NY Times tried, and failed miserably. He used a bamboo and boar hair toothbrush. “Instead of toothpaste, I had a jar of gray charcoal-mint toothpaste pellets. I popped one in, chewed it, sipped water and brushed. It was nice and minty, though the ash-colored spit was unsettling.” He brought a wooden folding chair for his ride on the subway, and asked the server at the deli if they could put his food in the glass dish he’d brought along. No phone, no laptop, no elevator. Despite all his efforts, he “counted 164 violations.” One of which was the toilet. We’ve become dependent on single use plastics: straws, cutlery, cups, tea bags, coffee pods, plastic bags and film, you name it! We may not be able to get rid of all plastics, but some are a start. Plastic producers worldwide are being challenged to produce less virgin material and invest in ways to reuse some of the material they’ve produced. If you’re interested in a very detailed analysis of what is and is not being done, you may want to read more about it here: https://cdn.minderoo.org/content/uploads/2023/02/04205527/Plastic-Waste-Makers-Index-2023.pdf |
Stuff Wears Out. What Do You Do With it? Especially if it’s HUGE!
The latest giant recycling challenge is wind turbine blades. Those enormous things last a maximum of 20 years. Mostly, they've been sent to landfills. One company has developed ways to chop up and shred these highly durable, incredibly large blades. What do they do with the shredded material? They send it to cement factories to burn in place of coal; supposedly the shredded blades burn cleaner. This article shows the process and also demonstrates the other limited ways of repurposing retired blades. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/recycling-wind-turbine-blades-nearly-161609371.html Serious Rabbit Disease Threatens Our Own Peter Cottontails
A highly contagious rabbit disease Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Type 2, or RHDV2 may show up on Long Island soon. If it does, it could decimate our wild rabbit population, and for those who own pet bunnies, they need to be vigilant and cautious. A vaccine is available if you have a pet. Our plentiful Eastern Cottontail, or the native, but now seldom found New England Cottontail could be nearly wiped out. If you do find a rabbit that died suddenly, or a wild carcass with the trademark bloody orifices,you can report it to veterinarians, the state Department of Agriculture and Markets at 518-457-3502 or https://agriculture.ny.gov/contact-us and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Veterinary Services at 518-218-7540. |
We Got Rid of Single Use Grocery Bags. Now We’re Running Out of Storage Room for the Reusable Ones. Help!
I used to reuse every “single use” plastic bag; I even buy a case of them from Costco because they are my best choice for all the cat litter I scoop. Several hundred bags fit into a space the size of a tissue box. The reusable bags are like trying to herd cats. They don’t fold nicely, unless folding fitted bottom bed sheets is your forte. Trying to store them in the bottom of a closet feels like there’s a sci fi monster trying to jump out every time I open the door. If you have too many you can use them for creative storage wrangling around the house, or you can donate them to a food pantry or animal shelter (if they are still clean). If you are so inclined you can even sind them to Chico Bag’s Pay It Forward program and they will repurpose them. https://www.chicobag.com/zero-waste-pay-it-forward-program
For your entertainment:
The Language of Flowers: An Intro to Pollination Ecology
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWJVOiTVuH8&t=52s&ab_channel=ecolandscaping1
Seed collecting, germination, propagation by cuttings or bare - root stock and more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbrNUkYhJMQ&ab_channel=PlantItWild
Gardening for Butterflies
https://plantitwild.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Friendly-Garden-Club-4_26_22.pptx.pdf
Growing Vertically with Edible and Ornamental Plants
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8Qu7Ez8OI8&ab_channel=ecolandscaping1
February 2023
.Starry Starry Night is Getting Less Starry
Artificial lighting at night has increased at a dramatic rate over the past decade. Researchers asked tens of thousands of volunteers to assess the visibility of the dimmest stars, between 2011 and 2022 and found that the amount of night lighting had doubled in just 8 years. They needed to use humans to track this because LEDs emit blue light which is invisible to the satellites that used to track light pollution. Those LEDs came into widespread use beginning about 109 years ago. So what are the implications of so much night light beyond fewer star-filled nights? Melatonin production in both humans and animals will be disrupted; it upsets migration patterns for birds, insects and various animals; manufacturing, installing and running these lights requires huge amounts of electricity. While lots of well-lit areas make us feel safer, there is no real evidence it deters crime, it might just make victims and property easier to spot! This image shows the night sky during the 2003 Northeast Blackout.
This is the study’s results https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.adf4952
Here’s the people who do the tracking - you can join it if you want: https://www.globeatnight.org/
For general information about light pollution: https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/
Artificial lighting at night has increased at a dramatic rate over the past decade. Researchers asked tens of thousands of volunteers to assess the visibility of the dimmest stars, between 2011 and 2022 and found that the amount of night lighting had doubled in just 8 years. They needed to use humans to track this because LEDs emit blue light which is invisible to the satellites that used to track light pollution. Those LEDs came into widespread use beginning about 109 years ago. So what are the implications of so much night light beyond fewer star-filled nights? Melatonin production in both humans and animals will be disrupted; it upsets migration patterns for birds, insects and various animals; manufacturing, installing and running these lights requires huge amounts of electricity. While lots of well-lit areas make us feel safer, there is no real evidence it deters crime, it might just make victims and property easier to spot! This image shows the night sky during the 2003 Northeast Blackout.
This is the study’s results https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.adf4952
Here’s the people who do the tracking - you can join it if you want: https://www.globeatnight.org/
For general information about light pollution: https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/
The Return of the Ozone Layer
Not for decades yet, but scientists see progress. This is mostly due to China finally giving up chlorofluorocarbons (CFC-11). Ozone is what protects us from ultraviolet radiation that causes skin cancer and otherwise harm people, plants and animals. Well, some particulate air pollution has helped by diffusing UV rays, but we’re making that go away!
For you science nerds: https://ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Some basic reminders about why you need to protect yourself against UV: https://www.epa.gov/sunsafety/health-effects-uv-radiation
Not for decades yet, but scientists see progress. This is mostly due to China finally giving up chlorofluorocarbons (CFC-11). Ozone is what protects us from ultraviolet radiation that causes skin cancer and otherwise harm people, plants and animals. Well, some particulate air pollution has helped by diffusing UV rays, but we’re making that go away!
For you science nerds: https://ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Some basic reminders about why you need to protect yourself against UV: https://www.epa.gov/sunsafety/health-effects-uv-radiation
Keep Your Bird Feeders Next to Your Windows to Save Lives!
A small study out of Canada confirms that if you have bird feeders, keep them within 3 feet or more than 30 feet away from windows to avoid collisions. The study analyzed speed and angles to come up with suggestions to save our feathered friends. https://studyfinds.org/why-birds-fly-into-windows/
And some cheery ways to learn more about bird watching: https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/ If you like this magazine, remember you can read loads of magazines via “Flipster” from the Northport Library website!
A small study out of Canada confirms that if you have bird feeders, keep them within 3 feet or more than 30 feet away from windows to avoid collisions. The study analyzed speed and angles to come up with suggestions to save our feathered friends. https://studyfinds.org/why-birds-fly-into-windows/
And some cheery ways to learn more about bird watching: https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/ If you like this magazine, remember you can read loads of magazines via “Flipster” from the Northport Library website!
As New York Continues to Move to Ban Natural Gas …
Can you still cook? I know people who swear that gas is the only way to get the best results. Or is it? I grew up in an all-electric household. Mom was terrified of gas. If we had gas in the house we absolutely would blow up someday. Still, she was an amazing cook. One day on a whim I bought a little induction one-burner cooktop on sale at Costco. Very soon I was in love with it. I stopped cooking on my stove and did everything on the single burner. One year I cooked nearly an entire Thanksgiving dinner on the one little burner. I wanted an induction cooktop, but there was nothing that would fit my space, I won’t bore you with the specifics. Finally, I found one! I’m in cooking heaven. For those who don’t know, induction cooks with magnets, the only thing that gets hot is the pot and what’s inside it. The stove stays cool. It’s one smooth flat, easy to clean surface. Your pot of pasta water will be boiling in two minutes. Yes, it’s faster than gas.
Now back to the gas story. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has suggested that gas stoves need to be phased out. Unlike other gas appliances, stoves are not vented outside. And when they are on they spew nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde in amounts that would violate the outdoor air quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. When off they still leak methane and benzene into our homes. While you can, and should, use your range hood to vent your stove whenever you’re cooking, it’s unlikely you do that when scrambling an egg. Shelly Miller, an environmental engineer at the University of Colorado Boulder, said the community has been aware of the risks since at least the 1990s. “Cooking is the No. 1 way you’re polluting your home. It is causing respiratory and cardiovascular health problems; it can exacerbate flu and asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in children.” None of the current proposed legislation will force people to give up their existing stoves.
But if you’re looking to buy something new, you might consider induction. I might even lend you my plug in if you want to try it out for yourself. Don’t just take my word for it. From Bon Appetit magazine: “Even some professional chefs are taking up induction cooking at home. Eric Ripert, chef-owner of Le Bernardin in Manhattan, recently installed induction ranges in his two homes—and digs them. “It’s so much more precise than watching a flame,” he told The New York Times. “You can really focus on your cooking and pay attention to what’s inside the pan, not what’s underneath it.” “ Here’s another believer from Bon Appetit with some explanation on how it works https://www.bonappetit.com/story/duxtop-portable-induction-cooktop
The debate about gas stoves: https://slate.com/technology/2023/01/gas-stoves-vs-electric-induction-health-climate.html
Can you still cook? I know people who swear that gas is the only way to get the best results. Or is it? I grew up in an all-electric household. Mom was terrified of gas. If we had gas in the house we absolutely would blow up someday. Still, she was an amazing cook. One day on a whim I bought a little induction one-burner cooktop on sale at Costco. Very soon I was in love with it. I stopped cooking on my stove and did everything on the single burner. One year I cooked nearly an entire Thanksgiving dinner on the one little burner. I wanted an induction cooktop, but there was nothing that would fit my space, I won’t bore you with the specifics. Finally, I found one! I’m in cooking heaven. For those who don’t know, induction cooks with magnets, the only thing that gets hot is the pot and what’s inside it. The stove stays cool. It’s one smooth flat, easy to clean surface. Your pot of pasta water will be boiling in two minutes. Yes, it’s faster than gas.
Now back to the gas story. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has suggested that gas stoves need to be phased out. Unlike other gas appliances, stoves are not vented outside. And when they are on they spew nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde in amounts that would violate the outdoor air quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. When off they still leak methane and benzene into our homes. While you can, and should, use your range hood to vent your stove whenever you’re cooking, it’s unlikely you do that when scrambling an egg. Shelly Miller, an environmental engineer at the University of Colorado Boulder, said the community has been aware of the risks since at least the 1990s. “Cooking is the No. 1 way you’re polluting your home. It is causing respiratory and cardiovascular health problems; it can exacerbate flu and asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in children.” None of the current proposed legislation will force people to give up their existing stoves.
But if you’re looking to buy something new, you might consider induction. I might even lend you my plug in if you want to try it out for yourself. Don’t just take my word for it. From Bon Appetit magazine: “Even some professional chefs are taking up induction cooking at home. Eric Ripert, chef-owner of Le Bernardin in Manhattan, recently installed induction ranges in his two homes—and digs them. “It’s so much more precise than watching a flame,” he told The New York Times. “You can really focus on your cooking and pay attention to what’s inside the pan, not what’s underneath it.” “ Here’s another believer from Bon Appetit with some explanation on how it works https://www.bonappetit.com/story/duxtop-portable-induction-cooktop
The debate about gas stoves: https://slate.com/technology/2023/01/gas-stoves-vs-electric-induction-health-climate.html
January 2023
Is there eFuel in Your Future?
There is more and more pressure to move away from petroleum-based fuels. But battery technology has many drawbacks from sourcing the materials to disposal of expired batteries. A technology that has been around for a while is getting new notice is synthetic fuel or eFuel. Porsche has invested in the world’s first commercial EFuel plant in Chile, using wind power to produce the fuel. eFuel is composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms, just like conventional gasoline and diesel. Synthetic fuels get their hydrogen from water and their carbon from the air, using a process called carbon capture. Production facilities such as the one in Chile combine the water and carbon, copying the exact chemical structure of gas, diesel or avgas. While it is currently expensive to make, depending on the electricity cost, the primary advantage beyond carbon neutrality is that it can be pumped from our existing gas stations and nearly every internal combustion engine can use it.
Big advantages are for the trucking industry, as the batteries needed to power big rigs would be enormous, cutting the amount they can haul. Also affected are weight limits on highways, bridges, etc. Even bigger is the advantage to the airline industry, as eFuel can duplicate avgas, the fuel used by jet airplanes. KLM airlines has already tested flights using eFuel. The shipping industry will also benefit from having this kind of flexibility. Too often the media reporting focuses just on automobiles, but there’s so much that battery technology won’t fix, only complicate. Trucking, airlines, trains, agriculture, home heating (oil and gas), kerosene, propane and much more. EFuels are not cheap, they are not “zero emission.” HYdrogen is still a dream. We just don’t have a lot of viable options yet we are commiting to batteries as if they are the cure-all to our global energy woes.
There is more and more pressure to move away from petroleum-based fuels. But battery technology has many drawbacks from sourcing the materials to disposal of expired batteries. A technology that has been around for a while is getting new notice is synthetic fuel or eFuel. Porsche has invested in the world’s first commercial EFuel plant in Chile, using wind power to produce the fuel. eFuel is composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms, just like conventional gasoline and diesel. Synthetic fuels get their hydrogen from water and their carbon from the air, using a process called carbon capture. Production facilities such as the one in Chile combine the water and carbon, copying the exact chemical structure of gas, diesel or avgas. While it is currently expensive to make, depending on the electricity cost, the primary advantage beyond carbon neutrality is that it can be pumped from our existing gas stations and nearly every internal combustion engine can use it.
Big advantages are for the trucking industry, as the batteries needed to power big rigs would be enormous, cutting the amount they can haul. Also affected are weight limits on highways, bridges, etc. Even bigger is the advantage to the airline industry, as eFuel can duplicate avgas, the fuel used by jet airplanes. KLM airlines has already tested flights using eFuel. The shipping industry will also benefit from having this kind of flexibility. Too often the media reporting focuses just on automobiles, but there’s so much that battery technology won’t fix, only complicate. Trucking, airlines, trains, agriculture, home heating (oil and gas), kerosene, propane and much more. EFuels are not cheap, they are not “zero emission.” HYdrogen is still a dream. We just don’t have a lot of viable options yet we are commiting to batteries as if they are the cure-all to our global energy woes.
Happy 190th Birthday!
To Jonathan the Tortoise, the oldest living land animal. Born in 1832, he lives on the South Atlantic island of St. Helena. https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/12/08/jonathan-the-tortoise-worlds-oldest-living-land-mammal-celebrates-190th-birthday
To Jonathan the Tortoise, the oldest living land animal. Born in 1832, he lives on the South Atlantic island of St. Helena. https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/12/08/jonathan-the-tortoise-worlds-oldest-living-land-mammal-celebrates-190th-birthday
We’re Going to Need a LOT of Hens
Researchers at Princeton have discovered that egg whites are highly effective at filtering microplastics and salt from water. “Egg whites are a complex system of almost pure protein that—when freeze-dried and heated to 900 degrees Celsius in an environment without oxygen—create a structure of interconnected strands of carbon fibers and sheets of graphene.” https://phys.org/news/2022-11-egg-whites-material-capable-filtering.html
Did Your Holiday Shopping Leave You with a Huge Pile of Boxes?
If one of your go-to shopping sites is Amazon, there are things you can do to reduce the amount of packaging you receive. Call Amazon at 888-280-4331 and say “Plastic Packaging.” You’ll talk to a representative and have less plastic packaging used in your orders. https://www.amazon.com/b/?&node=5521637011 I don’t know what can be done about over packaging.
Researchers at Princeton have discovered that egg whites are highly effective at filtering microplastics and salt from water. “Egg whites are a complex system of almost pure protein that—when freeze-dried and heated to 900 degrees Celsius in an environment without oxygen—create a structure of interconnected strands of carbon fibers and sheets of graphene.” https://phys.org/news/2022-11-egg-whites-material-capable-filtering.html
Did Your Holiday Shopping Leave You with a Huge Pile of Boxes?
If one of your go-to shopping sites is Amazon, there are things you can do to reduce the amount of packaging you receive. Call Amazon at 888-280-4331 and say “Plastic Packaging.” You’ll talk to a representative and have less plastic packaging used in your orders. https://www.amazon.com/b/?&node=5521637011 I don’t know what can be done about over packaging.
Biodegradable Plastic, A Good Idea, But Will it Work?
PHA bottles have gone into production at Pepsi and Bacardi. They are made by Cove: “At Cove, we have developed the world’s first biodegradable water bottle made of PHA — a plastic alternative produced by living organisms found in the ocean, plants, and even the human body. PHA is biodegradable, naturally-occurring, and produces zero toxic waste as it breaks down. It’s recommended that the items go to a recycling center. Places that will be able to recycle the items won’t accept them until PHA production is scaled up. What will happen in the meantime? In addition, is the message that it’s OK to just throw the items away like litter?