Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
B.P. Molinaro warns: “Money for your communities is being lost because you are not recycling”
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Borough President James P. Molinaro today issued an appeal to Staten Island residents to boost their recycling efforts in the wake of poor quarterly results in the Staten Island Paper Challenge contest run by Pratt Industries.
“Last year, Pratt Industries came up with a plan to boost recycling while helping the community at the same time,” Molinaro said. “Pratt generously agreed to award monetary prizes to each of our three Community Boards based on their increases of paper recycling compared to the previous year. The prize money would be used to fund park improvements in the respective districts. While there seems to have been an initial boost in recycling rates, as time has elapsed there has been a decline.
“I have just been informed that for this quarter thus far, NONE of our Community Boards increased their recycling percentages,” Molinaro said. “If this trend continues, no prizes will be awarded.”
“Staten Islanders are basically throwing away a great opportunity by not recycling in greater numbers,” Molinaro continued. “Staten Island is the ‘Borough of Parks’ and we are always looking for ways to improve our parks and open spaces. With our City in a fiscal crisis, Pratt, a private company, stepped in and generously offered to award money for park enhancements and improvements.”
Hank Levin of Pratt Industries said, “Pratt Industries encourages all Islanders to support their communities by jumping on the paper (and all recycling items) recycling bandwagon and help enhance the environment and beatify their parks. I know they will meet this challenge.”
Echoing the Borough President’s sentiments, Parks Borough Commissioner Adena Long added, “I encourage our neighbors to increase their recycling efforts, not only because it’s the right thing to do for the environment, but because it’s also great for Staten Island parks!”
“I cannot stress enough how important it is for Staten Islanders to intensify their recycling efforts. Not only does it benefit the environment, but thanks to Pratt Industries, it will benefit your neighborhood. I hope that next quarter’s results show an upswing in recycling in each Community Board, and I urge Staten Islanders to tell their friends, families, and neighbors to recycle as well,” Molinaro concluded.
August 17, 2011