Update from the PLGNA Tidy-Up

Committee

Taking Steps Towards A

Litter-Free PLG

The Issue Of Litter: A Snapshot

• Flatbush is ground zero of a PLG litter problem• The issue is – Cultural/generational: “what else do you do with

rubbish but drop/toss it?” – systemic: “It’s not my responsibility”– organizational: DSNY rates PLG highly for

cleanliness…more on that later!

Team Working On This

• Small Group of PLGers met in April as a result of a post on PLG listserv to discuss how to fix the litter problem

• Dynishal Gross -- PLGNA sponsor• Jae Carey – group initiator• Sam Lucas – enthusiastic contributor• Skei Saulnier – enthusiastic contributor

Multi-Pronged Approach To Clean Up

• Any successful approach needs to enlist the help of multiple members of the community:1. Commercial: enlist the help of the Flatbush

businesses, both individually and as part of a merchants association

2. Community: engage families and individuals to engender a sense of responsibility and pride

3. Enforcement: work with appropriate political and governmental bodies to ensure active clean-up and equally active enforcement

Enforcement: DSNY Statistics Masking A Problem

Scorecard is an inspection program run by the New York City Mayor’s Office of Operations and is a measurement of cleanliness of City streets and sidewalks as well as a source of information for:– The Department of Sanitation used for policy development,

planning and evaluation of citywide operations– The Mayor’s Office for tracking and monitoring the City’s

cleanliness over time. – Community Boards and other public interest groups to learn

about cleanliness conditions in local neighborhoods– Business Improvement Districts (BIDS) to evaluate the

conditions of neighborhood shopping and central business districts.

Scorecard Rating Scale 1-3• Acceptably Clean:

– 1.0 A clean street. No litter.– 1.2 A clean street, except for a few traces of litter.

• Not Acceptably Clean:– 1.5 More than a few traces, but no concentration of litter. There are

no piles of– litter, and there are large gaps between pieces of litter.

• Filthy:– 1.8 Litter is concentrated in spots; there may either be large gaps

between piles of litter, or small gaps between pieces of litter.– 2.0 Litter is concentrated, there are small gaps between piles of litter.– 2.5 Litter is highly concentrated, there are no gaps in the piles of litter.

The litter is a straight line along the curb.– 3.0 Litter is very highly concentrated, there are no gaps in the piles of

litter. The litter is a straight line along and over the curb.

Acceptably Clean 1.0

Not Acceptably Clean 2.0

Close To “Filthy” 3.0

Enforcement Other Outreach• Inviting members of DSNY and our

Sanitation District to this meeting• Contacting Markowitz’ office for

community outreach• Enquiring about Doe Fund

coverage• Application for grant money from

Brooklyn Community Association• Information on DSNY receptacle

options including Can Sponsor

Commercial

• Contact BID organizations to get information on trash receptacle options

• Approach all the businesses along Flatbush individually about sweeping and picking UP trash rather than sweeping into street…

• Develop brochure and materials to hand out to shops with plastic gloves

Community• Education materials and

brochure to hand out to residents and visitors to PLG with gloves

• Litter Free PLG Family “Pick Up” Day– Saturday PM in Summer where

families come out and hand out materials and

• "Cleanest block on Flatbush“ campaign in the summer (like “Greenest Block”)

Next Steps

• Today’s meeting is huge progress• Enlisting the help of DSNY is critical• Agree dates for commercial and community

engagement • Any new members interested in joining?

Thank you!

Questions via Dynishal to other committee members please