Environmental Studies Alumna Works to Support NYC Bag Bill

Since graduating from the Environmental Studies program at Lang in May 2016, Lena Greenberg has been working with Cafeteria Culture (CafCu). She first encountered CafCu while planning Sustainapalooza, an annual student-organized event focused on youth-led transitions to a more sustainable and just urban environment. CafCu’s director and founder, Debby Lee Cohen, delivered the keynote address at Sustainapalooza III in April 2016.

More from Lena about her work with Cafeteria Culture:

CafCu is a non-profit environmental education and advocacy organization working primarily in low-income public schools towards climate-smart communities. This school year, we’re partnering with public schools in Brooklyn and Manhattan on our Trash Free Waters campaign (TFW). TFW is an initiative to engage students in citizen science and advocacy for a plastic-free ocean. So far, students have conducted street litter surveys, and will be sharing the data with their communities and proposing local initiatives to reduce plastic street litter that contributes to a global marine litter plight.Next up is the fight to ensure that the minimum 5¢ carry out bag tax is takes effect on February 15, 2017. The bag bill is under attack by state legislators, and it’s our job to prevent their preemption of the bag bill. If passed the bill could have a tremendous influence on NYC’s plastic usage, and would also set precedents for other cities across the country. If we let state legislators kill the bill, it’ll send a negative message about similar legislation in other cities. Take action on social media (#BagItNYC #ZeroWaste #StopPreemption) and call your senator today. See below for a phone call script. In order to ensure that the bill—if we succeed in ensuring it takes effect—does not negatively affect low-income New Yorkers, students at our partner schools will be making and giving away reusable shopping bags.In order to ensure that the bill—if we succeed in ensuring it takes effect—does not negatively affect low-income New Yorkers, students at our partner schools will be making and giving away reusable shopping bags.How will they do that? With your help! Cafeteria Culture is partnering with the Tishman Environment and Design Center to collect your lightly-used t-shirts, so students can convert them into reusable shopping bags. Students will give these bags away at supermarkets and other businesses near their schools. Equipped with reusable bags, community members will be able to minimize their use of plastic bags that end up in storm drains, oceans, and animals, and skip the carryout bag fee. Donate your shirts at the Tishman Environment and Design Center at 79 5th Avenue, 16th floor by February 2nd. How will they do that? With your help! Cafeteria Culture is partnering with the Tishman Environment and Design Center to collect your lightly-used t-shirts, so students can convert them into reusable shopping bags. Students will give these bags away at supermarkets and other businesses near their schools. Equipped with reusable bags, community members will be able to minimize their use of plastic bags that end up in storm drains, oceans, and animals, and skip the carry out bag fee. Donate your shirts today at the Tishman Environment and Design Center at 79 5th Avenue, 16th floor.For more information, visit Cafeteria Culture’s call to action online at cafeteriaculture.org/nyc-bag-bill.html.For more information, visit Cafeteria Culture’s call to action online.Suggested script for calling your senator:Hi, my name is _________ and I’m a constituent in Senator ______’s district. My address is _______. I'm calling to express my opposition to Senate Bill 362. The bill would preempt NYC’s BYOBag law that’s set to go into effect February 15th. NYC’s law was the result of years of advocacy and compromise and NYC deserves a chance to show that it works. I urge Senator _______ to oppose S362. Please let me know the Senator’s position on the S362, my phone number is _______. Thank you.