Saving the planet one recycling bin at a time

Local residents are teaming up to make the planet a little greener, one community at a time, and they’re beginning with Merrick.

Merokeans Mark Goldman and his daughter Lexiey are working to found a not-for-profit environmental group called Plan(et)-A, with the goal of cleaning up the streets and raising awareness among residents as to how to live a greener lifestyle.

Goldman said it all started when Lexiey, a 20-year-old Calhoun graduate, was walking recently on the street with a friend in Merrick, drinking a soda. Upon finishing her beverage, she couldn’t find a public recycling bin to put the empty bottle. The Goldmans scanned neighboring towns such as Wantagh and Massapequa, but still could not locate a public recycling bin.

Following their unsuccessful search, father and daughter became inspired to create an environmental group with the aim of bringing public recycling bins to the streets of Merrick. “As residents, we have the responsibility to recycle cans and bottles, and yet, when we’re in public, we don’t even have the option,” Mark Goldman said.

Lexiey Goldman and a group of five other concerned residents gathered 700 names on a petition calling for public recycling bins in Merrick and Bellmore. Then Mark Goldman wrote to State Sen. Charles Fuschillo, a Republican from Merrick, explaining plans for Plan(et)-A. Fuschillo called him shortly after to say that he supported public recycling bins.

While the Goldmans are working on making public recycling bins available locally, their long-term goal is to foster community awareness of environmental issues. “Even if we have recycling bins, it doesn’t mean anyone is going to use them,” Mark Goldman said. “We really believe that if we educate people, and tell them why they should recycle, people would really do it if they had the opportunity.”

The group still must figure out a great deal, said Goldman, including how to pay for the bins and how to collect the recyclables in them, but said he plans to speak with other community groups that may be willing to help, such as the Boy Scouts. Goldman has already set up a website, www.plan-et-a.org, and is planning an Adopt-A-Recycling-Bin contest, calling for residents to submit their artwork in the hope of placing the best illustration on the front of Town of Hempstead recycling bins.

Goldman recently met with Lou DiGrazia, the town’s sanitation commissioner, to discuss his initiatives. DiGrazia introduced Goldman to Salvatore Saia, the town’s sanitation superintendent and recycling coordinator. Goldman said DiGrazia and Saia were cooperative and helpful.

“If we could make people a little more ambitious about living a greener life, maybe we can live a few more years on this planet,” Goldman said.

Comments about this story? DWeingrad@liherald or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.