New York State Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay. Photo by Julianne Mosher
Rebecca Kassay is sworn into office by NYS Attorney General Letitia James. Photo by Juliane Mosher
Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright presents Rebecca Kassay with a flower bouquet. Photo by Julianne Mosher
Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright speaks at the inauguration ceremony. Photo by Julianne Mosher
New York State Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay. Photo by Julianne Mosher
New York State Attorney General Letitia James at inauguration ceremony for Rebecca Kassay. Photo by Julianne Mosher
Town of Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich spoke at the inauguration ceremony. Photo by Julianne Mosher
New York State Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay with Lillie Crowder. Photo by Julianne Mosher
By Julianne Mosher
The seats of Theatre Three in Port Jefferson were completely filled on Sunday, Jan. 26 to witness the swearing in and inauguration of Rebecca Kassay to the New York State Assembly for District 4.
A local business owner and former deputy mayor of the Village of Port Jefferson, Kassay beat incumbent Ed Flood (R) last year in a tight race for the seat. District 4 covers several communities including Stony Brook, Setauket, Port Jefferson, Port Jefferson Station, Mount Sinai and Coram.
The event featured guest speakers including Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, Brookhaven Town Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) and Suffolk County Legislator Steven Englebright (D-Setauket). Administration of Oath of Office was provided by New York State Attorney General Letitia James and a special poem was read by civil rights activist and community organizer Lillie Crowder.
During her final remarks, Kassay thanked her supporters and all of the public servants before her.
“I know that I carry on work that has been done so long before I was born and I’m working for the people who’ve not yet been born,” she told the crowd. “I’m working for the people who will never hear my name, but hopefully will feel the impact that I had along with these incredible leaders in our community and be better off from it.”
Assemblyman Steve Stern with veterans. Photo courtesy Assemblyman Stern’s office
New York State Assemblyman Steve Stern (D-Huntington) announced he has been appointed the new chairman of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs by Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie.
“I am so proud to be the next chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee,” said Stern. “It has been my privilege for my entire career to work closely with and for the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much to protect our great nation. I look forward to meeting with our veterans from across New York State to deliver meaningful legislation for our local heroes and their families.”
“As former chair of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I am thrilled to congratulate my former colleague and neighbor, Assemblyman Steve Stern, on his appointment as the new chair. Assemblyman Stern is a dedicated leader who has long championed the needs of our nation’s heroes, and I have no doubt he will continue to fight for the care and support our veterans rightfully deserve,” said Kimberly Jean-Pierre, former Assemblymember for the 11th Assembly District and former chair of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
In the Suffolk County Legislature, where he served for 12 years, Stern was chairman of the Veterans Committee. During his tenure, he introduced and passed the landmark legislation “Housing Our Homeless Heroes,” ensuring that veterans and their families always have a place to call home.
He also authored the “Protect Our Fallen Heroes Act,” which protects military funerals from reprehensible and disrespectful protests while families are grieving the loss of their loved ones and ensures respect for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation.
“My work with Assemblyman Stern goes back to his time at the county, where he championed many programs that positively affected the lives of our veterans, including the Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Project. Since its inception in 2012, the Dwyer Project’s impact on the community has resulted in reductions in hospitalizations, sustained families, secured gainful employment, prevented homelessness, promoted daily wellness, and absolutely saved lives,” said Marcelle Leis, director of the Suffolk County Veterans Services Agency. “With Stern’s appointment as chair of the Standing Committee on Veterans’ Affairs in the New York State Assembly, his leadership will continue to forge new programs for veterans throughout the state.”
“The veterans of New York State received a gift today with the appointment of Assemblyman Steve Stern as chairman of the Assembly Veterans’ Affairs Committee,” said Thomas Ronayne, former director of the Suffolk County Veterans Services Agency. “Assemblyman Stern brings two decades of selfless commitment and service to the veterans’ community, characterized by understanding, compassion, and a true grasp of the issues and concerns that affect us. An honest and intelligent chairman who will give his all to ensure we are well served by the state government.”
After being elected to the Assembly in 2018, Stern continued to deliver for veterans. He has sponsored and passed legislation to improve access to critical information, ensuring veterans receive the benefits they deserve, as well as legislation creating a task force to study and improve veterans’ employment opportunities. He has also passed legislation to protect veteran homebuyers from fraud through loan counseling and assistance, and to expand opportunities for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Enterprises.
“Steve Stern has effectively advocated for veterans and their families since he began serving as our legislator for the 16th District in Suffolk County. I am very glad to see that he has risen to the position of chairman of the Committee on Veterans Affairs in the New York State Assembly. He has years of experience and a deep knowledge of veterans’ issues to make a real difference. New York State veterans of all conflicts can be assured that he will continue to fight for them,” said Bob Santo, past commander of the American Legion Greenlawn Post 1244.
“Assemblyman Stern has been helping me serve our homeless veterans since 2007; he has gone with me to the VA in Northport, and he has helped me serve dinners to our homeless veterans on Thanksgiving and throughout the year at St. Anthony of Padua. He is very dedicated to our veterans,” said Dr. Ray Mascolo, D.D.S., who provides free dental care to veterans on Long Island.
Stern continues to be at the forefront of initiatives to improve services and care for veterans. He introduced legislation to create a study of women veterans’ healthcare issues to improve veterans’ healthcare in New York, and a bill to ensure that a veteran’s disability benefits would not jeopardize their eligibility for public housing.
“As chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I will remain committed to ensuring that our veterans across New York State always receive the recognition, support, and services they deserve,” said Stern.
Gov. Hochul says regulation authority should stay with DEC
By Mallie Jane Kim
New York’s horseshoe crabs remain available to use as bait, after Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) vetoed a bill that would have prohibited the practice. Long Island environmental groups that had advocated for increased protections were not happy with the move.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY.) Photo Courtesy of www.governor.ny.gov
“I’m angry and disappointed,” said George Hoffman, cofounder of the Setauket Harbor Task Force, which monitors water quality in area harbors and was one of about 60 organizations that signed on to a September letter urging Hochul to sign the bill.
“It will be hard to build enthusiasm among the environmental community for this governor,” Hoffman said.
Hochul’s Dec. 13 veto argued the species is already regulated by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), and said the bill could have “unintended consequences” on managing species like whelk and eel, which are harvested using horseshoe crabs as bait.
“While this bill is well intentioned,” she wrote in a letter to the state assembly, “the management of marine species is better left to the experts at DEC.”
She also expressed concern the bill could be detrimental to the commercial fishing industry and the biomedical field, which uses horseshoe crab blood in the development of vaccines.
Members of the commercial fishing industry were grateful for the reprieve.
“We’re thrilled that legislation didn’t take the place of science,” said Bonnie Brady, executive director of Montauk-based Long Island Commercial Fishing Association.
Brady questions the sufficiency of methodology and equipment used to count New York’s crab population for the ASMFC’s report, which rated the state’s stock of horseshoe crabs as “poor.” She laid out her concerns in a letter to Hochul earlier this month, arguing the species is already highly regulated and not overharvested.
“Fishermen’s lives and livelihoods depend on this,” Brady said. “Fishermen deserve the best science available — we aren’t doing anything that’s even close to on par with what other states are doing.”
Brady added that fishermen do not want to see the species depleted, and they will work within the regulations they are given.
Before its veto, the bill drew attention from legendary conservationist Jane Goodall, who urged Hochul to sign the bill to protect the ancient species, calling on their “shared sense of responsibility for the natural world.”
For her part, Hochul said she is directing DEC to evaluate whether additional measures could help protect the species, and she pointed to the agency’s current efforts to address concerns about overharvesting, including harvest prohibitions during the May and June spawning season. The agency also limits the annual horseshoe crab harvest in New York waters to 150,000, which is half the quota allowed by the ASMFC.
Environmental groups are not taking her assurance as consolation.
“Governor Hochul didn’t just drop the ball; she dropped the axe,” said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Farmingdale-based Citizens Campaign for the Environment, in a statement. “It’s unacceptable to allow the continued antiquated practice of chopping up horseshoe crabs so they can be used as bait by fishermen.”
Esposito said her organization will keep advocating for stronger regulations to ensure long-term protection of the species.
Federal priorities and legislation will be markedly different in 2025. Donald Trump received 55% of Suffolk County votes for President, and both CD1 and CD2 Republican members of Congress were re-elected. (CD3 includes a very small part of northwestern Huntington, and re-elected their Democratic member of Congress). As we move through the coming year, it will be very important to stay in touch with your Congressional representative and express your opinions. If you are not sure of your CD or other elected officials, go to https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/ and all your representative districts will be listed.
However, much of what affects our day-to-day lives is determined by New York State, Suffolk County and the 10 Towns that comprise Suffolk so our focus for 2025 should be familiarizing ourselves with local issuesand finances, and making our voices heard on these local levels.
Suffolk County (according to the 2020 census) has a population of 1.5 million (578,940 households), with a 2024 Operating Budget Revenue of $5.172 billion and 2024 Operating Budget Expenditures of $4.133 billion. The taxable full valuation of property in the county is $405.5 billion.
Revenue comes from property taxes, sales tax, state aid, federal aid, and other sources. The revenue stream included in the budget is only an estimate of the amounts that can be anticipated. If retail sales fall, the 8.625% sales tax yield will not be as great as anticipated. Similarly, if homeowners and business owners do not promptly pay their property tax, there is a shortfall. The county may borrow money in anticipation of receiving this revenue; therefore, debt service may be required because of this borrowing.
Expenditures are for personnel, debt service, and a wide variety of services, such as police, education and economic assistance. About 39% of the $4.1 billion budget is mandated by various state and federal government programs, such as Medicaid, which restricts the freedom of the county to apportion expenditures. The remainder is “discretionary.”
Suffolk County’s proposed 2025 budget includes a tax increase for most homeowners, expected to average about $49 per home in Huntington, Smithtown and Brookhaven. The increase resulted from a shortfall in expected sales tax receipts, about $50 million less this year than what was projected, pension costs went up by about $43 million and health care costs went up by $66 million. Also Suffolk voters approved a clean water proposition in 2024; sales taxes will increase in March from 8.625% to 8.75%(about 12 cents on a $100 purchase or $1.25 on a $1,000 purchase).
Ed Romaine is our Suffolk County Executive ([email protected]) elected for a 4 year term. Other elected county-wide offices include Comptroller John M. Kennedy Jr.([email protected]), Clerk Vincent Puleo ([email protected]), District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney ([email protected]) and Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr. (suffolk.sheriff@suffolkcounty ny.gov).
There also is an 18 member Suffolk County Legislature, serving 2 year elected terms (term is limited to 12 years in office for all legislators). To find your SC Legislative District, go to https://www.scnylegislature.us/ and click on Find Your Representative. Then read up on your county legislator, find out what their priorities are and whether those are your priorities too. The General and committee meeting schedules are on the website, along with meeting minutes.
There are 13 committees which meet the week before each general (monthly) meeting of the Suffolk County Legislature to discuss proposed bills and issues and decide what moves forward to the full legislature. For example, the Veterans committee and Environment, Parks & Agriculture meet on Monday mornings, Economic Development, Planning and Housing on Wednesday afternoons and Public Safety on Thursday mornings.
Since there are 10 Towns in Suffolk, and many incorporated Villages, there are other levels of representation, ordinances and codes. Concerned citizens need to navigate these levels and establish relationships with all your elected officials, so that when a question or issue arises, you are aware of which level of government has responsibility. Remember that elected officials work for YOU, and if you do not communicate clearly and responsibly your message will not receive the attention and response it deserves.
To learn more about those who represent Suffolk County residents on every level of government and how to reach them, the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County issues an annual Directory of Public Officials in March, available online and as a pdf in English and in Spanish at https://my.lwv.org/new-york/suffolk-county.
Lisa Scott is president of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.For more information, visit https//my.lwv.org/new-york/suffolk-county.
On November 30, Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Jane Bonner (third from left), New York State Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (left) and Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon (right) were guests at the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for new Eagle Scout, Carrie Davis (second from left) from Troop 2019. She is the second young lady in the troop to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.
For her Eagle Scout project, Carrie built bee houses at Cedar Beach in Mt. Sinai (next to her brother Larry’s Eagle Scout project) to support local pollinators, contribute to the health of the environment and enhance the community’s natural resources. Carrie also earned 20 additional merit badges while excelling in both school and sports—a testament to her determination, leadership, and character.
“I commend Carrie for the work that she has done to attain the rank of Eagle Scout. Her leadership qualities, hard work and dedication to the community set a great example for her peers to follow. I look forward to all the great things that she will accomplish in the future,” said Councilwoman Bonner.
After an extended vote-counting process, Rebecca Kassay has defeated incumbent Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson). Official results and certification are expected from the Board of Elections in the coming weeks. As of now, Kassay is leading Flood by 813 votes.
Kassay released a statement on her Facebook page Tuesday, Nov. 26, declaring victory in the race for New York State Assembly District 4. She wrote, “After a spirited campaign, I am declaring victory in the race for New York State Assembly District 4, having secured an insurmountable lead over my opponent, Ed Flood. Official results and certification are expected from the Board of Elections in the coming weeks.”
Kassay added, “I am heartened by our community’s trust in me to bring public service back to politics. It will be a great honor to represent District 4 in the New York State Assembly and to deliver resources to our communities. As discussed during civic debates and at residents’ doors throughout my campaign, I will serve with a community-up approach — one that prioritizes transparency, communication and meaningful action on pressing issues.”
Assemblywoman-elect Kassay has already begun laying the groundwork to ensure she and her team “hit the ground running and serve the district effectively on day one.”
“Throughout the coming weeks, I will be meeting with civic groups, school district representatives, nonprofits, first responders, local government officials and other community stakeholders to collaborate on the important work of shaping the projects and policies that will guide the district forward,” the statement continued.
Kassay invites residents or groups to connect with the incoming District 4 Assembly team by emailing [email protected].
Gov. Hochul visits Stony Brook following Aug. 18 storm. File photo
By Lynn Hallarman
The Federal Emergency Management Agency denied requests from Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Nov. 14 to provide funding assistance for Suffolk County homeowners impacted by the severe flooding this past August.
Hochul requested disaster assistance from FEMA’s Public and Individual Assistance programs for Suffolk County in September in the wake of a relentless six-hour downpour in the early hours of Aug. 19.
Floodwaters from almost 11 inches of rain destroyed roads and damaged numerous residences and businesses across the North Shore of Suffolk County. Multiple swift water rescues occurred in the Town of Brookhaven, and flooding caused a breach of the Mill Pond Dam in Stony Brook Village causing six families to be displaced.
“Over 2,000 residents and business owners experienced flood damage in some capacity, and Stony Brook University had to relocate and/or shelter hundreds of students,” according to the statement released by the governor’s office shortly after the storm.
President Joe Biden (D), in October, approved a major disaster declaration for New York State for recovery efforts. The federal funding supports emergency work and repair by local governments and eligible private nonprofit organizations.
However, this aid funding does not include flood damage repair for individual households.
The November FEMA declaration denied Hochul’s request for aid to homeowners.
“It was determined that the damage was not of severity and magnitude to warrant a Federal Declaration for Individual Assistance,” said a statement from FEMA.
Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY1) sent a letter to the governor on Nov. 20 urging her to appeal the decision to deny Individual Assistance to Suffolk County residents.
“Suffolk County families devastated by the August 18 flooding, cannot be left to shoulder the burden alone,” he said in the letter.
“While the federal denial [for individual homeowners] was disappointing, we plan to appeal and will continue fighting to ensure storm-impacted residents have access to recovery resources,” said Gordon Tepper, Long Island press secretary for Hochul, in an email statement to TBR.
A local flood ordeal
Kellie Coppi, an East Setauket homeowner, describes a harrowing ordeal when her basement was rapidly flooded with six feet of stormwater the night of the storm. As she tried to soak up the water
Floodwater line in Coppi’s Basement after the night of the Aug. 8 storm. Photo courtesy Kellie Coppi
with towels, a sudden surge trapped her, her father and her dog in the basement. If not for her husband breaking down the basement door, they might have drowned.
Coppi’s father, who lives with her and her family, is recovering from recent cancer chemotherapy. In the flood, he lost his life-long belongings stored in the basement.
“Everything in the entire finished basement had to go, and everything from my deceased mother, who passed away right before the flood,” she said.
Coppi thought she would receive funding aid after FEMA officials made a visit to her house, but she has yet to hear back from them.
“I thought that was a really good sign, because it was a whole team with jackets and everything, wow!” she said. She added, “They took pictures and checked the property. It seemed totally legit and that something was going to happen,” she said to TBR News Media.
As a backup, Coppi applied for a $ 50,000 grant to the New York State Homes and Community Renewal Agency’s Resilient& Ready Home Repair Program available to affected homeowners.
“But that’s been even more challenging than FEMA,” she said. “They asked for every document under the sun.”
Coppi made it to the second round but still has not heard any news from HCR. She does not know anyone in her community who received this funding, only those who were denied.
The application deadline was Nov. 8.
According to Shachar Roloson, assistant director of communication for HCR, “a large number of applicants are still gathering documents or working with contractors to get repair estimates” in an email to TBR.
“Over 600 applications were received on Long Island. Of those, 80 applications have been fully or conditionally approved to date,” said Roloson.
TBR spoke with Brookhaven Town District 1 Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) about his efforts to advocate for local homeowners affected by flooding damage.
After speaking with residents, Kornreich estimates that at least 30 households in the Stony Brook area alone have tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage to their homes.
“There are people in our community who are suffering, and that is what I am focused on,” he said.
Young horseshoe crabs at West Meadow Beach, Stony Brook. File photo
By Mallie Jane Kim
Legendary conservationist Jane Goodall added her voice to those asking Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) to sign a bill that would prevent the harvest of horseshoe crabs in New York waters for biomedical or commercial fishing purposes.
Dr. Jane Goodall Photo courtesy of National Geographic
“As leaders, we have the unique ability to ensure that vulnerable species like the horseshoe crab, which has been part of our planet’s history for over 350 million years, are protected for future generations,” Goodall wrote in her plea to Hochul.
The Horseshoe Crab Protection Act passed the New York State Assembly and Senate last June, but the governor has yet to sign or veto it. If she does not sign the bill by the end of 2024, the bill is essentially vetoed and would have to go through the legislative process again next year.
Local advocates and environmental groups who sent letters and organized postcard campaigns to motivate Hochul to call up the bill welcomed Goodall bringing her influence to the cause.
“It’s a rare and special event when Dr. Goodall reaches out and requests New York help her in saving our planet’s endangered species,” said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Farmingdale-based Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “Governor Hochul should heed the wisdom and vision that Dr. Goodall provides and immediately sign this important legislation.”
The pioneering primatologist, who has dedicated her life and career to protecting wildlife and the environment, pointed out in her letter the role horseshoe crabs play in coastal ecosystems as well as the food chain for migratory birds such as red knots.
Horseshoe crabs are considered “living fossils” since they have been around an estimated 450 million years, and they are more closely related to scorpions and spiders than to crustaceans. The species, which is monitored and regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, has seen a steady decline in recent decades.
Environmental advocates worry that since Connecticut and Massachusetts recently enacted stronger protections for horseshoe crabs and other neighboring states are considering rule changes, biomedical agencies may draw their attention to New York waters.
Currently the main harvesters of horseshoe crabs in New York waters are commercial fishermen, who use the animals as bait for eel and conch.
Long Island fisheries and the Long Island Farm Bureau have asked the governor not to sign the bill as written, saying efforts in recent years to sustain the species — including limiting the annual total harvest of horseshoe crabs to 150,000 — need a chance to make a difference. They say the legislation is based on emotion rather than science.
“If [the agencies] felt that the horseshoe crab stock was in danger, we would hear about it first,” said Bonnie Brady, executive director of Montauk-based Long Island Commercial Fishing Association, in a previous conversation with TBR [“The bill has passed in Albany, but awaits governor’s signature,” Sept. 20, 2024]. “To use a law to regulate a fishery, when they are already regulated by appropriate bodies that have the science to back it, is just not the way to allow fisheries to survive.”
Goodall specifically addressed preventing the biomedical uses of horseshoe crabs’ blue blood and asserted that synthetic alternatives mean harvesting the animals is not as necessary for research and vaccine development.
In her letter to Hochul, she appealed to a “shared sense of responsibility” for the natural world.
“I have devoted my life to preserving the planet,” Goodall wrote. “I hope together, we can make a lasting difference in this important corner of the world.”
Left: Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-PortJefferson).
Right: Rebecca Kassay. Courtesy Ed Flood and Rebecca Kassay for NYS Assembly's Facebook page
By Toni-Elena Gallo
In the wake of last Tuesday’s election, the race for NYS Assembly District 4 remains to be called.
With mail-in ballots still being counted, there is no exact timeline for when results will be in.
Rebecca Kassay released a statement last Thursday, saying, “We knew that the race for the NYS
Assembly seat in District 4 would be one of the most competitive races in New York State, and as of Wednesday, November 6, I hold a 211 vote lead. In a race this close, results will not be determined until the affidavit ballots and final mail in ballots are counted. This might take until late November, so in the meantime, our team is reflecting on our gratitude for the incredible individuals and community groups who we’ve connected with and built stronger relationships with during the journey of this campaign.”
“There is so much work to be done here in our district, our town, our county and our state, and I hope to have the opportunity to serve you as your Assemblymember,” Kassay continued.
TBR requested comment from Assemblyman Flood and his response was as follows: “As we await the final numbers, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to everyone who has supported me throughout this campaign. I remain deeply committed to representing, advocating for and listening to our community. This dedication is not new; it has always been the foundation of my work and will continue to guide me moving forward.”
“Serving our community is an honor, and I am committed to ensuring that every voice is heard and every concern is addressed,” he continued.
We frequently hear the mandate “Reduce, Re-use, and Recycle,” but is that really the answer to our waste problem?
Yes, recycling can work, but it’s not perfect. A recycling business can refurbish and recycle goods or can even create new products from recycled materials. It reducesthe amount of waste sent to landfills, and conserves resources like water, minerals, and timber by reducing the need to collect new raw materials.
Local government must provide incentives for businesses to invest in research to develop ways to recycle and reproduce products that can be sold. Modern urban recycling, which began with the passage of New Jersey’s mandatory recycling law in 1984, has successfully created a tremendous supply of recycled newspapers, glass bottles, office paper, and other materials. But when it comes to creating markets to meet consumer and business demand for the products made from these materials, the economics of recycling falls apart.
The U.S. has a national recycling goal to increase the recycling rate to 50% by 2030, from a rate of 7% in 1960 and 32% in 1923. Between 70% and 90% of all items that could be recycled now end up in the landfill.An important success has been the Better Bottle Bill that was passed originally in New York State in 1983.
Purchasers of bottled water, beer, wine coolers or soda are charged a fee, and are reimbursed when they return them to be re-produced. Returned bottles are sorted based on the type of material (glass, plastic, aluminum), and cleaned. The plastics are then shredded into small flakes and melted down into small pellets which can be used for new bottles.
To make it more effective, the New York Legislature has written a Bigger, Better Bottle Bill, which would add glass bottles with non-carbonated liquids and iced tea, and increase the deposit price and the reimbursement price to ten cents. Itdid not pass in this year’s Albany Legislature, although it will surely be legislated again, or re-written into a bill that mandates the return of bottles.
In fact, as David Biddle, Executive Director of the Public Recycling Officials of Pennsylvania, points out in the Harvard Business Review, recycling is not just a matter of recovering recyclable material; it’s a total economic system. Few people realize that their local curbside collection program is only the beginning of a recycling loop. Unless consumers want to buy the recycled products, the markets for the material they put out at the curb will remain depressed.
While public policymakers are still trying to improve their recycling programs, large corporations and small entrepreneurs alike are in the best position to take the lead. Top managers of companies like American Airlines, Bell Atlantic, and Coca-Cola have made buying recycled products and investing in green R&D part of their overall business strategies, which has allowed them to cut down on waste, increase profitmargins, and, in some cases, truly close the recycling loop. The success of recycling—indeed, its true value in the long term—won’t depend on how much landfill space is saved but on whether or not recycling makes economic sense.
U.S. manufacturers haven’t always been so slow to invest. For decades, the steel and aluminum industries have successfully developed their respective technologies to incorporate large quantities of post-consumer recycled materials. Aluminum cans all contain a high percentage of recycled content, and virtually all products made with steel contain at least 25% reclaimed steel. In general, these two industries couldn’t survive without the heavy input of recycled material; and in this, they are models for the lagging paper and plastics industries. The universal recycle icon (three arrows in a Mobius loop) shows whether the item can be recycled, or may have been recycled.
Government also needs to enlist university scientists and train students to find additional ways to process glass, plastics, fabrics, and other items that now end up in the landfill. Local governments need to provide education about the importance of recycling and the materials consumers place in their curbside recycle bins.
By mandating recycling and setting extremely high recovery goals for both paper and plastics, government has challenged U.S. industry to develop the necessary infrastructure for incorporating these materials into manufacturing processes. Yet for this challenge to be met, local government needs to find ways to involve business and industry in using and creating recycled products.
Nancy Marris first vice-president of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.For more information, visit www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org or call 631-862-6860.
Local government must provide incentives for businesses to invest in research to develop ways to recycle and reproduce products that can be sold. Modern urban recycling, which began with the passage of New Jersey’s mandatory recycling law in 1984, has successfully created a tremendous supply of recycled newspapers, glass bottles, office paper, and other materials. But when it comes to creating markets to meet consumer and business demand for the products made from these materials, the economics of recycling falls apart.
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