Environmental Commission Newsletter
September 2021
The Buzz from Chairman Buz Kenney: Fighting Climate Change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (I.P.C.C.) issued its Sixth Assessment Report on global climate change in August and its ominous projections should concern, if not terrify, us all. Owing to the more-than-one-degree-Celsius historic change in global surface temperature directly tied to human activity, we already experience crippling droughts, fierce wildfires, inundating rain, catastrophic flooding, unprecedented tropical cyclones and continued sea level rise. Even under the mildest of the report’s five projections, which assumes that carbon emissions reduce to zero by mid-century and new technologies remove billions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, global surface temperature increases by an additional 0.4 degrees Celsius by 2040. And, the report notes, such climate events will become more and more extreme as the temperature continues to rise.

Our planet is at a tipping point, with life as we have known it hanging in the balance. So what are we to do? I believe each of us must change the way we live and we must do so now. Fossil fuel is the prime driver of the global climate crisis so we must seek to minimize or eliminate its presence in our daily lives. Battery-powered electric alternatives exist for much of our gasoline-powered inventory, including automobiles, lawn mowers, snow blowers and yard maintenance devices, and we all should begin the transition. Those of us of a certain age can recall a world free of most consumer plastics and we all should actively seek to remove plastic from our lives and achieve a zero waste circular economy. At the very least, we should factor packaging into our consumer purchases and avoid plastic whenever possible (for example, frozen concentrate in lieu of bottled orange juice). At home, we should make our dwellings as energy-efficient as possible and pursue conversion from natural gas heating and appliances to electric. 

Many of the aforementioned actions may, in the future, become governmental mandates and we should encourage our elected representatives to make this happen. But we cannot wait. The impact of global warming is with us now and will only get worse in the near term. The time for each of us to act has come.
Five Tips for a Plastic-Free Back-to-School Season
As we start a new school year, the non-profit Beyond Plastics offers 5 tips for starting the new school year off as plastic-free and zero-waste as possible. Their simple guide covers the following five recommendations in more detail:

  1. Invest in reusable foodware or plastic-free, zero-waste snacks and lunches
  2. Buy in BULK; bring your own containers; and shop local
  3. Check your office, shelves, desk, and closet for school supplies before you buy
  4. Get “new to you” clothes by buying secondhand
  5. Use this as an opportunity to educate your child

Click here to see the guide and feel free to share it widely.
Meet Us at the Festival on the Green in Morristown - October 3rd
Free wildflower seeds, reusable grocery bags, and oak tree planting kits -- these are just a few of the things you’ll find in the Environmental Commission’s booth at the Festival on the Green in Morristown this year.

Meet the EC members in person. Learn about sustainable landscaping, composting, and much more. Located in the heart of Morristown, the Festival on the Green runs from noon to 5pm on Saturday, October 3.  
Electric Landscaping Equipment for Homeowners
Thinking about replacing a piece of gas-powered lawn equipment? Please consider going electric instead. 

Battery technology has advanced in recent years, so electric-powered lawn equipment can now provide nearly equivalent power as gas, with zero carbon emissions and significantly less noise pollution.

Plus, you can forget about breathing noxious fumes from filling gas cans, or spills from mixing gasoline and lubrication oil, etc. This equipment also tends to be easier to maintain, lighter weight, and easier to store upright. There are cordless electric lawn mowers, edgers, trimmers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, and more. Visit your favorite retailer to learn more about your options.    
Tip of the Month: Planting Oak Acorns to Replace Ash Trees

Ash trees in our area are dying from the Emerald Ash Beetle infestation. By planting acorns, you can replace Ash trees with FREE Oak trees. Locally collected acorns produce Oak trees that are adapted to the same climate and soils. This is a fun project for kids and adults. Here’s a step-by-step guide: 

Step 1:  Select an acorn. Discard any acorns that may be cracked or with holes in the shell. Place the acorn in water and let it soak for 24 hours. If it floats in the water, it will not grow and another acorn is required.

Step 2:  Find a one or two gallon container that has holes in the bottom for proper drainage. Fill the container with soil from the same location the tree will eventually be planted. The soil can be amended with a small amount of finished compost or potting soil, but this is not required.

Step 3:  Plant the acorn on its side in the soil at a depth of one and a half times the diameter of the acorn. For example, a one-inch diameter acorn should be planted around one and a half inches deep.

Step 4: Place the container where it will receive direct sun from morning until noon, and water it as needed to keep the soil moist. The acorn will germinate in four to six weeks. Continue to water and fertilize your new tree as needed. 

Step 5: Let the seedling grow in its container until fall. In October, plant in a sunny location with plenty of room to grow, and away from overhead utility lines. Dig the planting hole twice the width of the container. The soil level in the container should match the soil level of the existing grade once planted. A half-inch of mulch can be added to aid in water retention. The newly planted tree will become fully established in about three years. Until that time, water and fertilize it as needed. 

Three Ways You Can Help
 
  • Join our mail list and spread the word by forwarding this email to a neighbor

  • Attend the next meeting of the Environmental Commission on Oct 14 at 7 PM