Sustainable Parks Corner: Green Pledge Revisited

Since February 2011, an amazing 1,269 Parks employees have made pledges to be more sustainable on the job and in their everyday lives. With a new year comes some reflection, and Sustainable Parks is interested in profiling you on the progress of your pledge! Drop us a line at sustainableparks@parks.nyc.gov.

Name: Susan Rosenstadt-Bresler
Position: Director of Consultant Management
Borough: Capital Projects, Olmsted Center in Queens
Pledge: To take home and recycle plastics labeled #1 through #7.

Why did you choose this as your pledge?
New York City accepts plastic bottles and jugs labeled #1 or #2, while at home (in White Plains) we recycle #1 through #7. There are so many more labeled plastics other than bottles and jugs that can be reused.

What have you done to follow through on your green pledge?
I still collect plastics from around the building and take them home. At home, we recycle everything possible from old electronics to all papers, plastic, glass & metal. We also have a little community “shop” at our recycling center called “Take It or Leave It” where you can leave useable, but unneeded household goods, furniture, clothing etc. and anyone who needs it can just take it. We try not to waste anything.

What specific challenges have you faced in following through with your pledge?
We don’t really have a way at the Olmsted Center to rinse off used plastics, so I tend to drag them home in their used state and they can be bulky at times.

Has this pledge made you more conscious of your actions elsewhere?
In addition to recycling, we have started some composting of acceptable food leftovers at home. We are also more conscious of the kind of containers that food is packaged in at the market. I support manufacturers that make attempts to use recyclable packaging and buy degradable packaging when possible.

The only plastics that are accepted in New York City’s curbside recycling program are plastic bottles and jugs. However, there is one way to recycle more. All plastics are labeled with a number from 1-7. Any containers that are labeled with the number “5” on the bottom, such as yogurt cups, margarine tubs, and sour cream, hummus and take-out food containers are accepted for recycling at Whole Foods Markets. The store participates in the “Preserve Gimme 5” program, which offers a drop off for these containers for Preserve, a sustainable consumer products company. Preserve will recycle all of these #5 plastics and create recycled toothbrushes and razors. You can also earn points from Recyclebank that can be redeemed for discounts and deals at local and national businesses!

For drop-off locations and program information, go to: http://www.preserveproducts.com/recycling/gimme5.html

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