Activity 10

Activity 10
Carmen Lam

It has been a very long time since I went on a class field trip. Honestly, going on this class trip definitely bring back memories when I was in middle school. Taking the Staten Island ferry for the second time was a fun and relaxing experience, because it was a beautiful morning and I get to sit outside and feel the breeze. Once I got to Staten Island I met with the rest of the group members and we took a private bus tour with Doug to see the recreation of Freshkills park. I was very surprised to see that NYC is actually willing to support a recreation of Freshkills park in STATEN ISLAND, because I would never expect the city to invest in Staten Island landfill.
It was interesting to learn that New York City garbage is being transported/ dumped into other landfill locations.Staten Island waste is sent to DSNY's Staten Island Transfer station. That is where garbage is compacted and sealed into shipping containers and railed by a private contractor to a landfill in South Carolina. Also Bronx and Brooklyn garbage is railed to a landfill in Virginia. Last but not least, Manhattan garbage is trucked to a waste to energy plant in New Jersey. It was interesting to see that garbage is going through a cycle from place to place.I am very excited to see the recreation of Freshkills park in 30 years because, there is going to have many activities such as cross-country skiing, environmental education, Promenade and Barge Gardens, Bridle Trails, Multi-use paths, canoe and kayak launches. It is amazing to see a landfill that once was a dump and soon it will become largest park in New York City.