Public Health News

New York City's most notorious source of pollution has finally gone by the wayside. In an announcement last week, Mayor Bill de Blasio revealed that the city has completely rid itself of heating fuel No. 6, a highly toxic oil long used to keep buildings warm during the winter.

Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled his plan to combat water pollution in New York, just days after the Environmental Protection Agency warned the state to reduce nitrogen levels in the Long Island Sound. The controversy comes amidst a continued spotlight on water issues, following the ongoing crisis in Flint, Michigan.

On the evening of February 4, 2016, Mayor Bill de Blasio presented his third State of the City Speech. The speech, delivered in the Bronx, highlighted what he is doing to promote sustainability, green energy, and transportation initiatives.

With the Flint water crisis raging, there's a silent epidemic in our own midst. According to an article by Vox, urban environments face immense, unchecked levels of lead - including here in New York.

Mayor Bill De Blasio’s rezoning process for East New York will include upgrades to existing infrastructure, thanks to efforts by Council Member Rafael Espinal.

According to the annual Mayor’s Management Report, New York City’s Department of Sanitation has increased its recycling rate to 16% for the 2015 fiscal year, up from 15.4% in 2014. The recycling rate measures the amount of waste diverted from landfills, and channeled into various recycling streams.

Manhattan’s underground pipelines leak three to five times more than cities with newer infrastructure, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In a recent survey, the EPA found that Manhattan suffers 90% more methane leaks per mile than Cincinnati, Ohio and Durham, North Carolina.