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While New York City’s municipal sanitation workers collect waste and recycling from our curbsides by day, private carting companies are responsible for collecting from commercial properties at night. Community advocates and city policymakers have been combating environmental, health, and safety issues within the commercial waste industry.

Justice Anthony Kennedy was a key proponent of environmental protection in cases posed to the court. If Judge Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed as his replacement, many court-watchers worry about the future of environmental protection.

As climate change effects become increasingly more prevalent, people will be forced to move to safer spaces. A World Bank report predicts that the developing world could experience more than 140 million climate migrants.

The Community Risk and Resiliency Act was signed into law in 2014 after NYLCV and other environmental advocates pushed for its passage. The Department of Environmental Conservation recently released two new flood management documents developed under the CRRA that address flood risk and sea-level rise, as well as approve state funding for mitigation and resiliency programs.

During Lobby Day on Capitol Hill, NYLCV met with Congressmembers about three main issues: the need to reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), protecting the clean car standards, and drawing attention to the newly-launched Clean Energy for All Campaign. The team stressed the importance of maintaining New York’s leadership role on green energy and clean air.

As part of the Reforming Energy Vision initiative, the New York State Department of Public Service, Con Edison, National Express, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority are participating in a demonstration project to operate five electric school buses throughout the White Plains public school district. The plan is for school buses to operate normally through the year and charge at night, while in the summer months they will be plugged into the grid and used as energy storage assets.

NYLCV and other state chapters took to Capitol Hill recently to lobby Congress for the Land and Water Conservation Fund's unabridged funding and indefinite reauthorization. At each meeting, legislators were presented with a complete list of projects the LCWF has sponsored in their districts with the intention of collaborating on an event at a cherished LWCF funded project and to serve as a reminder of the essential role the conservation program plays.

The EPA has once again been gaining public attention for recent regulations (or lack thereof) associated with potentially dangerous chemicals found in everyday cleaning products.  Policymakers in New York have worked to implement more strict standards.  However, there is still work to be done to protect our environment and health.