LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, August 25 to 31

Paving with good intentions

Posted 8/24/22

I was excited to see the headline “Saving our world from becoming Planet Plastic” (Sustainability, July 21-27).

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, August 25 to 31

Paving with good intentions

Posted

I was excited to see the headline “Saving our world from becoming Planet Plastic” (Sustainability, July 21-27). Then I read the article. 

The piece covered a talk by the president of a company that makes a road-paving product from recycled plastic. He asserted that these roads would not generate microplastics. The company’s website, technisoil.com, claims their products are environmentally safe. 

I am skeptical. Roads are continually abraded by vehicular traffic, and the UV rays in sunlight degrades plastic.  

Moreover, plastics consist of a cocktail of chemicals—vinyl chloride, phthalates, lead, cadmium, plasticizers and flame retardants, among others—all known toxins linked to health issues. Many are “forever chemicals,” which bioaccumulate in the food chain and harm humans and other species. 

What will happen to this chemical mixture as the roads—exposed to wear and tear, sunlight and the elements—break down? As yet, no long-term studies have been conducted, either by researchers or plastic paving companies.  

Eventually, plastic particles laced with hazardous substances are bound to be carried away by wind and water. 

Nor is paving with plastics safe for road workers. Heating plastics releases carcinogens and other toxins, including carbon monoxide, acrolein, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and toluene. 

The solution to our plastics pollution crisis does not lie in finding new ways to repurpose the plastic waste we generate. Instead, we need to create less plastic in the first place.  

With an astounding 40 percent of all new plastic produced today going to single-use plastics, redesigning packaging for reuse and recirculation is an excellent place to start.  

In addition to the waste issue, weaning ourselves off single-use plastics would help address the climate catastrophe. 

Plastics are made from fossil fuels and release greenhouse gases at every stage of the production process, from wellhead to end-of-product life and beyond. Plastic continues to release greenhouse gases as it degrades—even when incorporated into faux asphalt. 

Using recycled plastic to surface roads is no panacea for the plastics pollution crisis. Instead, it’s a way to hide our waste in plain view—while turning our roads into Superfund sites. 

Rebekah Creshkoff
Callicoon, NY

Control noise pollution 

It is a good thing that we have campgrounds along the river. They allow access to what we residents get to enjoy year-round. And we are, after all, in the National Scenic and Recreational Area. Long before this official designation urbanites and others have been coming here by rail and then by car. 

Old farmer Ostrander, now with the angels, told me that the site of Landers at Skinners Falls was once a cornfield. City folk used to drive through its promised bounty for kicks. Not acceptable. 

What is also not acceptable are the high levels of noise pollution caused by every campground as the result of amplified music. Talk to any resident and you will hear the same complaint. Visitors are more than welcome. Amplified music is not. Landers Campgrounds should take a leadership position on this, and include banning of amplified music at all of their sites. Of course, there would be permits for special events. 

It’s all about being a good neighbor and a good citizen. Again, north and south of Milanville, any resident on both sides of the river would sign a petition asking for this. 

Let’s hope this simple letter finds its way to Mr. Lander’s inbox and that can be avoided. 

Cynthia Nash
Milanville, PA 

noise pollution, campgrounds, sustainability, plastic toxins

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