Making Long Beach environmentally friendly

Local environmental activists met last week with city officials to discuss a series of initiatives that could be implemented to ensure for a “greener” and more environmentally friendly Long Beach.

On Feb. 28, environmental activists Scott Bochner and Heather Smith — both members of the Sludge Stopper Task Force — met with Michael Robinson, director of Community Development, and Mike Cruz, the city’s community development liaison, and discussed a number of “green” initiatives for the city.

Ideas ranging from the placement of recycle bins on the boardwalk, to new covers for garbage cans on the beach, to the installation of catch basin insert filters — stormwater filtration devices — across Long Beach, were discussed.

Bochner, a Long Beach resident, said that those ideas discussed are a part of a joint effort by the Long Beach Surfer’s Association and Sludge Stopper Task Force to establish more environmental initiatives.

“We want to get the plan off the ground,” said Bochner, also a member of the Surfer’s Association. “We noticed over the years with the garbage cans on the beach, that on weekends they fill up — birds jump inside, pull stuff out. The wind comes and blows garbage into the ocean. We need better covers.”

Bochner also explained that recycle bins — which are currently on the beaches — would be a major improvement and could be situated at every access point on the boardwalk to get on or off the beach. He added that city officials were in agreement with suggestions, and want to move forward with implementing them. “The new administration is all for it,” he said.

Robinson said that this will most likely be the first of many talks this year to focus on implementing ideas to improve the environment.

“It’s a concern, but it’s an easy fix,” Robinson said of controlling debris on the beaches. “It piles up sometimes. If you’re on the beach, you don’t want to see someone’s sandwich wrapper.”

Robinson also said that recycle bins on the boardwalk would be effective, and his hope is that the ideas can be implemented before the summer season starts. “We’re throwing ideas around right now, but we have to keep the beach clean,” he said. “We have to find out how much the cans cost, since we’re tight right now on money. Hopefully we get everything done prior to beach season.”

To avoid any cost to the city, Bochner said, environmental activists are considering local and outside advertising to generate money to purchase the recycle bins. To help raise awareness, he said, volunteers — including students from the environmental club at Long Beach High School — could reach out to businesses.

“We don’t want it to cost the city money,” he said. “Think of the local establishments — Lola’s, Billy’s Beach Café, the surf shops. We can get high school kids to, if they’re willing, go to places and say, ‘Would you like to advertise on a garbage can’.”

Billy Kupferman, a founding member of the Surfer’s Association, said that it’s crucial for Long Beach to effectively deal with trash and debris that appears on the boardwalk and the beach.

“The timing is right with summer around the corner — it’s time to get these changes made,” he said. “It would be irresponsible to call yourself the Surfer’s Association and not concern yourself with water quality. There’s an obvious need for this — the water does need to be cleaner.”

Bochner said that the most important topic of discussion centered on the installation of catch basin insert filters across Long Beach. According to Rob Weltner, president of Operation Splash — a Freeport-based non-profit organization committed to improving Long Island’s bays — Nassau County secured catch basin insert filters in 2006 through a $100 million Environmental Bond Act. Long Beach, he said, was able to acquire catch basins from the county under the act.

Fabco Industries, a Jericho, New York-based company specializing in stormwater remediation solutions, Weltner explained, produce the devices. The devices, he said, capture and retain pollutants associated with storm water runoff, including sediments, trash, vegetation, oil and grease and dissolved heavy metals, including lead and copper.

“The most important thing we can get people to realize is whatever goes down that drain is going to the bay,” said Weltner, who resides in Freeport. “We put these in at Freeport,” he said of his work with Operation Splash, “and we could see a significant improvement in the amount of garbage we were picking up.”

He added, “You clean them once or twice a year, and you’re protecting your bays and estuaries.”

Bochner said that 60 devices were secured for Long Beach, with the help of County Legislator Denise Ford (R-Long Beach). The devices, obtained at no cost to the city, are approximately $1,000 each, he said.

“That’s a savings of $60,000,” he said. “If a bottle or debris goes in, it won’t end up in Reynolds Channel. Why weren’t they ever implemented? We don’t know. But the community wants this—why not go for it?”

Robinson said that the city is willing to move forward with the installation process, and that if the devices are to be put in place, they should be installed around restaurants, bars, and other areas where trash could easily accumulate.

“We’re working with [The Department of] Public Works to figure out the best places for them,” he said. “From the East End to the West End. We have them — we have to get them installed.”