New York has a lot to learn when it comes to reducing waste. Currently, New York ships most of its waste to landfills outside of the state, particularly in North and South Carolina. Not only is this economically unsound, but it is harmful to the environment as well. Clearly, New York has a lot to learn from other cities that have mastered the art of dealing with waste.

Seattle is one such city. Seattle was one of the first cities in the US to implement a “Zero Waste” policy. It has banned non-recyclable products such as plastic bags and containers, and it even does curbside composting by turning dairy, meat, bones food waste, soil, and paper into fertilizer at a commercial composting plant! Also, movie theaters and restaurants are required to provide three different trash bins: waste, compost, and recycling. Due to these measures, Seattle currently has a recycling rate of 60-70%. The city hopes to reduce waste to the lowest feasible level by 2025.

Another such city that we can learn from is Boulder, Colorado. Boulder has a pay-as-you-throw program, in which recycling and composting are free, but waste is charged depending on the size of the container. In 2001, a law was passed that allowed private haulers to set their own prices, as long as they provided recycling services for free, and charged a variable price for waste depending on container size. Boulder’s recycling rate has risen from merely 17% in 2001 to a staggering 50% in 2008. However, it is still not enough. Like Seattle, Boulder hopes to have “zero waste” by 2025.

Clearly, New York needs to step up its regulations for waste disposal and recycling. Just like Seattle and Boulder, we need restrictive measures to ensure that our waste is not going to landfills but rather, being recycled and/or disposed of properly.

Monday, September 19, was a day that started horribly for me, but quickly turned around into a great, productive day. That was the day of my BioBlitz session at Brooklyn Bridge Park. My session began at 6:00 am, and waking up at 4:30 am to make sure I get there on time was no easy task. When I had finally arrived, it began pouring rain, and lightning could be seen in the distance. “As if this day couldn’t get any worse,” I thought.

After we split up into groups, I was put into the microbes group, along with several of my class members. Our job was to collect samples from four different locations (two beaches, the spiral pool, and the salt marsh) in order to compare pH levels, soil composition, microbe diversity, etc. These measurements would then allow us to ensure that conditions remain favorable to the microbes living in the area.

Collecting the samples was no easy task. We first had to collect samples using a large test tube, and then transfer over 5 mL of soil from the large test tube to a small test tube. Throughout this whole process, we had to be extremely careful not to put our hands above the lid of the test tube, to avoid contamination from the microbes living on our hands.

After we had collected all our samples, I realized how much I had learned that day, about a topic I would have known nothing about otherwise. I have walked through Brooklyn Bridge Park many times, and I had never stopped to think about the organisms that call it home, and how they may be in danger. I am thankful for BioBlitz (even though the conditions were miserable) for opening up my eyes and teaching me about the importance of protecting microbial populations in their native environments.