For Immediate Release Media Contact: Collin Nash or Sid Nathan
April 30, 2010 (516) 869 7794
North Hempstead Launches Long Island’s First Composting Cooperative
Town Seeks to Partner with Residents to Reduce Waste
North Hempstead, NY—Supervisor Jon Kaiman and the North Hempstead Town Board launched Long Island’s first Composting Cooperative at Clark Botanic Garden in Albertson Thursday, April 29, 2010. Under the pilot-program, residents will be given a composter for a nominal fee as well as a free instructional demonstration on proper composting techniques at Clark Botanic Garden. Town officials note that a limited number of composters are available at this time. Residents are asked to call TONH’s 311 Call Center by dialing 311 to inquire more about the program.
Sewing the seed for what he called “yet another Town of North Hempstead environmental undertaking” Supervisor Kaiman said: “We want to change the nature of garbage, we want people to recycle everything possible.”
“By utilizing a composter properly, residents can reduce the need for water, fertilizers and pesticides,” said Councilman Tom Dwyer. “It is an encouraging sign to see so many residents call 311 to find out more about North Hempstead’s Composting Cooperative.”
Under the pilot-program, residents who wish to participate will be provided one of the green, 30-inch composting drum for $50 and will receive instructions on composting at the 12-acre Garden.
Composting benefits the environment by helping to keep trash out of landfills and by promoting the return of valuable organic matter to the soil to be used again, leading environmental organizations say.
“Backyard composting is a legitimate means of diverting a significant proportion of household waste, which would otherwise end up incinerated and in landfills”, said Frank Morris of the Long Island Sierra Club. “On behalf of the thousand members of Sierra Club in North Hempstead, I’d like to thank Jon Kaiman and the North Hempstead Town Board, and Fran Reid for making this happen.”
“Composting, combined with recycling, significantly reduces our need to landfill and incinerate garbage,” said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “This innovative program provides the tools and the know-how for homeowners to participate in a program that is an easy, effective way of reducing household garbage, is cost-saving to the towns, and benefits our environment.”
Mindy Germain, Executive Director of the civic organization Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington, echoed Esposito, adding “We encourage members of our community to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to learn more about composting and purchase a composting bin from the Town at a reduced cost.”
The Composting Cooperative is the latest in a string of environmental initiatives created under Supervisor Kaiman’s administration.
In addition to Supervisor Kaiman’s brainchild, the award-winning School Recycling Partnership Program which boasts participants from nine of the Town’s 11 school districts, the town has instituted a number of other environmental initiatives, including a pharmaceutical collection program, e-waste recycling and EcoFest—a two-day fun-filled event at Clark Gardens celebrating the environment.
Caption: (L to R) TONH Receiver Charles Berman, Supervisor Jon Kaiman and Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel launch Long Island’s first Composting Cooperative at Clark Botanic Garden in Albertson.