Nazareth Company Noted in Boston Globe

The Boston Globe has an article on recycling/the environmental impact of old TV's and computer monitors (read the article here), in which a Nazareth company, Nicos Polymers and Grinding, is mentioned as one US based company that is taking these products and recycling them into material used to make new TV's.

In the article it notes:

Nicos’s chief executive, Kevin Cronin, said the company processes 80 million to a 100 million pounds of plastic a year, mostly to be reused as packaging material. But it can recast old TV set plastic for reuse in electronics.

DEP Public Meeting on Herceg Landfill

The Express-Times reports that the DEP is holding a public meeting on July 15, to discuss the plan to monitor contaminents (read the article here).

The landfill operated for 30 years, unlined and without a permit, with operations ending in 1981. It is located along border between Upper Nazareth and Bushkill.

Solar Farm Open House Big Success

The Express-Times reports that the solar farm in Upper Nazareth Township by LG Energy Solutions, which had an open house on Saturday drew 150 people including local politicians Rep. Charlie Dent, and State Reps. Craig Dally and Rich Grucella (read the article here).

Solar Farm in Upper Nazareth

The Express-Times reported on Sunday about a solar farm opening in Upper Nazareth Township, which is being developed by Nazareth graduate Tom McDonald (read it here).

The article was posted on Sunday, but notes opening is Saturday from 3-8 p.m. with a ceremony at 4. Wasn't clear on date as it wasn't identified, if someone knows, please post a comment!

English Beech Tree Removed on Earth Day

I received a few notes and comments about the decision to remove the English Beech Tree in the Circle on Earth Day. The Express-Times had an article on it as well (read it here).

The tree was 102 years old and roughly 70 feet high. Borough Council, following the Shade Tree Commission's having hired experts to assess the health of the tree, determined it was safest to have it cut down, the same recommendation of the experts.

Interestingly, the photo the Express-Times ran (which is there's not mine so I didn't lift it) shows a pile of logs from the tree. In my non-expert eyes, the log clearly supports the decision that the tree was dying. The entire center was rotted to within a few inches of the outside edge.

Regarding the 'taste' of having done so on Earth Day, I can see this in three ways.

• First, poor taste because in the idealistic Earth Day world nothing in the environment would ever die if it weren't for people, and here the Borough is proving it.
• Second, good taste because it shows that the Borough is being a good steward of the environment on its properties by first having planted it, then taking good care of it, and now creating a new space to plant a new tree.
• Third, is Earth Day really sacred? Earth Day was originated by environmental groups to support their causes and its been co-opted by corporate America to sell consumers products and services under the "Green" banner.

MS Science Class Releases Trout at Jacobsburg

Nazareth MS students participated in Trout in the Classroom by Trout Unlimited, a conservation group and recently released over 150 trout they raised into the Bushkill Creek in Jacobsburg Park according to an article in the Morning Call (read it here).

Gonzo Green

The Express-Times reports that Lower Nazareth Township is bracing for a potential proliferation of green technologies such as wind mills in people's front yards and solar panels blocking highway visibility, by developing a "green technologies ordinance" (read the article here).

Without an ordinance, it is reported residents could pretty much place these technologies wherever they wish.

Tough Call

The decision on whether to cut down the English Beech in the Circle or attempt to save it is going to be a tough one.

The Express-Times reports that the 120 year old tree in the Circle is dying and Council will have to decide if they should attempt to keep it alive or cut it down (read the article here).

The Shade Tree Commission will make a recommendation to Council prior to a decision being made.

NJ Waste Dumped at Essroc

The Express-Times reports (read it here) that waste from a Newark building demo that could contain hazardous material such as asbestos was found on Essroc property in Nazareth.

Essroc reported the material to police once it was found and an investigation is now underway.

State Change - Less $ for Some Municipalities

A change in a state reimbursement formula has resulted in some municipalities, including Lower Nazareth, receiving less money than anticipated from recycling according to an article in the Express-Times (read it here).

Lower Nazareth received $5000 less than expected, not nearly as bad as Palmer Twp which got $40,000 less.

The article did not mention if other Nazareth area municipalities were affected.

Electronics Recycling at Nazareth MS

The Express-Times reports that an Electronic Recycling Event to be held on Saturday at Nazareth Middle School (read article here).

Computers, batteries, and other electronic items can be dropped off to be properly disposed of during the event running from 10 a.m. to 2:0o p.m. There is a small fee per item.

Bushkill Creek Dry to Flowing

The rains filled the Bushkill Creek after it went dry killing many fish according to articles in the Express-Times (read them here and here).

DEP will investigate, but it appears that Hercules Cement turned off its electric pumps for maintenance and diesel replacements were not as strong resulting in dry beds.

Self-Cleaning Cement

The Express-Times reports that Essroc is supplying a self-cleaning cement, TX Active, for the rebuilding of I-35 Bridge in Minneapolis which collapsed a little more than a year ago (read the article here).

The material has been in use in Europe for many years, but this is the highest profile project using the Essroc product in the US. The TX Active cement destroys atmospheric pollutants.

Grasslands for Wildlife

I want to to thank Rick Wiltraut, Environmental Education Specialist, DCNR/Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, for forwarding information on an upcoming program taking place on Saturday, April 5, 2008, 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at the Lehigh Valley Zoo, "Grasslands for Wildlife".

The material asks, “Are you interested in preserving land and creating grassland habitat in the Lehigh Valley and elsewhere in the Delaware River Drainage Basin?”

The program will address:

Because of rapid development and loss of field habitat, Barn Owls, songbirds, gamebirds, butterflies, and many other grassland creatures are disappearing at an alarming rate, especially in the Lehigh Valley. Join us for this workshop to help grassland wildlife. Presentations will include land preservation by Wildlands Conservancy, PA Game Commission’s Barn Owl initiative, grassland wildlife by PA Audubon, American Kestrel nesting box project, warm-season grasses as biofuel by Agri-Dynamics, and grassland projects at Grand Central Sanitary
Landfill, Lehigh Gap Nature Center, and PPL Martins Creek.

Workshop is only $10.00 and includes refreshments and lunch. Workshop open to all interested landowners, small or large acreages. Registration is required. To register and for more information, contact Wildlands Conservancy at (610) 965-4397 ext. 10

PA iCon

Nazareth area resident Sarah Ruppert was selected as and featured on the new iConserve initiative.

Sarah was one of twelve PA residents selected as founding iCons, her profile is here.

The program was announced by Governor Ed Rendell on March 3 (read the release here).

In the release it notes:

PA iCons -- people who already do things in their everyday lives to help address alarming environmental trends -- are featured on the Web site. Twelve "founding" iCons demonstrate some conservation practices needed to combat Pennsylvania's core environmental challenges. Others are encouraged to share their conservation story by filling out a profile with their own tips, stories and favorite places in Pennsylvania.

Ruppert is also quoted in the release:

"As a family, we practice conservation in many ways from buying organic and local, to biking to work and using florescent light bulbs, however, we are most passionate about reducing consumption," said Sarah Ruppert, of Nazareth, one of the 12 founding PA iCons. "We found that by recycling/reusing everything from water bottles, toys, clothing, furniture, and even household appliances we minimize our footprint and save money!"

Are you a local iCon? What do you do to reduce your carbon footprint? Feel free to share in the comments.

Open Space Tax Freeze in NASD's Hands

Bushkill Supervisors have approved a plan to freeze taxes on certain properties to encourage open space preservation (read the article here).

In order to implement the plan the NASD must also approve the freeze.

HS Parking Problem

The Express-Times has a report from the Upper Nazareth Supervisors' meeting related to a problem that exists in the neighborhood adjacent to the HS (read the article here).

Apparently students who can't get a parking permit in the school lot are parking along the narrow streets of Mt. Vernon and Briarwood causing safety concerns and at times making the roads impassable.

The situation has been compounded by the loss of parking at Mitchell Avenue due to the construction of the new Middle School.

The Township has decided to ban parking on these streets and suggested the students take the matter up with their school board.

When you consider the money NASD has spent to certify the new building as 'green' and how many people are interested in being green, you have to wonder if it wouldn't be more responsible for the NASD to ban all students from driving to school and require them to use the buses that already go past their homes.

This would be environmentally sound, it would resolve parking problems, and it would reduce traffic in town.

Classroom Project for Math and Science

JD Malone writes today about a MS classroom project that blends science and math and gives students a good understanding of how these apply to real-life situations (read the article here).

MS teachers Tim Cunningham (science) and Bill Nelson (math) in cooperation with Trout Unlimited received a tank, trout eggs, and added a web cam for a project that allowed students to see the fish hatch and grow. The fish will then be released into the wild. Throughout the project students have checked and adjust the chemicals in the water.

Cunningham said the project mingles science concepts of ecology, biology and experimentation with math lessons on ratios, formulas and charts

And he added, "Just getting the kids interested made the project well worth it,"

Sounds like a great project with many real life applications so the kids can better understand the textbook teachings.

Recycling News

The start of the new year is a good time to review and look ahead. While it is most likely not on the top of too many people's minds recycling is important and we should each do our small part to make a collective difference.

To that end, like other borough residents, I recently received the Borough of Nazareth Recycling News for January of 2008.


I also took this picture, a virtual case study in reminders in itself, on Saturday evening.

The newsletter reminds residents that Borough Ordinance calls for refuse and recyclables to be placed curbside after 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, but before 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday. In the event of a holiday Monday - Wednesday, pick-up is delayed one day.

There are obvious reasons for this. To begin, no one wants to look at trash for days on end, but there is also a health hazard, especially in the summer when hot temperatures and black bags could result in not only bad odors, but rapid growth of bacteria and germs.

Residents are also encouraged to recycle. Glass, cans, and plastic (class 1 and 2) should be put in the blue recycling cans, not mixed in with the garbage. In short, the more the borough puts in recycling, the greater benefit we receive in grants from the state. The newsletter notes that our current effort has resulted in a Performance Recycling Grant from the Department of Environmental Protection.

Yard waste can be put in the garbage, but residents are encouraged to use the collection facility on the west end or to compost, if they have the space to do so. There is no charge for residents to use the waste collection site and it is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until dusk and on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until dusk. The site is closed on Monday and Friday.

Some important phone numbers from the newsletter:

• Questions regarding borough service - 610-759-0202
• Recycling coordinator - 610-759-9700
• If a pick-up is missed you can call Waste Management 800-621-2100.
• Used motor oil and batteries can be taken at autozone - call 610-614-1620 for information
• Old computers, monitors, printers, etc can be taken to Staples at route 33 and 248 call 610-258-6344 for more information.
• If you are aware of potential pollution violations you should call DEP at 610-861-2070.
  

Essroc to Make Plant Upgrade

Essroc will be building a domed structure to help it meet stricter environmental standards according to an article in the Express-Times (read it here).

The investment amount was not given, but was noted to be in the millions.