‘Green Army’ hosts cleanup at Brookside in Freeport

Posted

A small but mighty group of volunteers, wearing gloves and armed with garbage bags, gathered to clean up the Brookside Preserve in Freeport last Saturday — Earth Day — to make it a little greener, one piece of litter at a time.

The Green Army, a community club in Freeport, organized the event, which attracted a large turnout of community members as well as State Sen. Kevin Thomas and Nassau County Legislator Debra Mule.

“As we celebrate Earth Day, it’s important that we not only recognize the beauty of our planet but also take action to protect it,” Thomas said. “That’s why I’m proud to lead this community cleanup effort with Legislator Mule, volunteers from the Green Army organization and residents to protect our environment. Let’s work together to make our community cleaner, greener and healthier for all.”

Spearheaded by Mark Meyer, the organization’s lead creative and operations coordinator, the cleanup effort was a testament to the community’s commitment to preserving the environment.

The Green Army is dedicated to supporting green initiatives and preserving forests. For several years, the club organized small cleanups in Freeport, East Rockaway and Lindenhurst with this being the third annual cleanup in collaboration with Legislator Mulé.

Meyer envisions the Green Army as a community powerhouse dedicated to championing eco-friendly causes and combating plastic pollution. His aspirations include more pristine parks and a reduction in plastic litter on the streets. Meyer’s dedication to the environment extends beyond his volunteer work with the club, as he runs an e-commerce platform selling secondhand goods. His drive to preserve the planet is fueled by his awareness of the staggering amount of single-use plastics in circulation.

“I dream of a community organization that is a force for good, supporting green initiatives, and preserving nature’s forests,” Meyer said. “It has been a pleasure to work with people in the parks department, as well as city officials. I believe we can do a much better job in how the parks and preserves are presented, and I hope to see fewer plastics on the streets.”

Meyer’s club organized and rallied volunteers from all over the area to clean up plastic and other litter from the trails. The goal of the event was to clean up the preserve and expand the club’s reach throughout Long Island. 

As for future green endeavors, Meyer would love to see more funding and other organizations involved to help the club achieve its goals. Meyer’s vision for the club involves increased visibility and collaboration with other organizations, including the Boy Scouts and political figures. Recognizing the limitations of volunteer efforts in addressing plastic waste, he hopes to leverage these partnerships to make a more significant impact.

“The passion for this initiative stems from the belief that preserving the environment is a positive thing that can benefit everyone in the community,” Meyer said. “The park in Freeport, where the Earth Day cleanup event was held, was unfortunately filled with plastic waste like bottles, cans, and wrappers, which can harm wildlife in the area and beyond. This recognition of the negative impact of single-use plastic inspired us to take action and make a change.”

Single-use plastic, once a symbol of convenience, has now become a nemesis of the environment. Its non-biodegradable nature ensures that it takes hundreds of years to break down, thus turning landfills and natural habitats into disaster zones. The plastic waste not only harms wildlife but also outputs harmful chemicals into the ecosystem.

“The Brookside Preserve was a wonderful place to celebrate Earth Day and reaffirm our commitment to protecting our planet,” Legislator Mulé said. “I thank Senator Thomas, the Green Army, and all of our volunteers for all they did to beautify the preserve for residents to enjoy this spring.”

Meyer suggested that people who did not make it to the Earth Day event can still contribute to the environment by limiting their use of single-use plastics and looking for events in the future in their areas. He also recommended practices such as recycling and carpooling to reduce their environmental impact throughout the year.

“I believe that I have found my purpose, and I am willing to devote a huge portion of my life towards preserving the environment,” Meyer said. “It does not matter how we achieve it or which organization we are associated with. I am excited to witness the continuation of this mission.”