GreenHomeNYC Spring Tour: Lower East Side Ecology Center

Since 1987 the Lower East Side Ecology Center (LESEC) has offered community-based recycling and composting programs in New York City. Today, the Ecology Center offers free public compost collection and education, electronic waste recycling, stewardship of public open space, and environmental education. Join GreenHomeNYC as we tour the LESEC offices and newly renovated Environmental Learning Center.

We will start at the East River Park Fireboat House where the Lower East Side Ecology Center has its office and will reopen its Environmental Learning Center this year. We will highlight the green features of the building including the green roof system and the oyster gardens, and will discuss the future green improvements in ventilation and solar power.

Then we will move on to the compost site. At the compost site, participants will see how the food waste we collect at the Union Square Greenmarket and at our community garden are turned into composting using an in-vessle system and windrows. We will discuss the future artificial fresh water wetland system that we hope to build to treat the high nutrient leachate from the operation.

Finally, we will tour the recently opened Pier 42 site at the southern end of East River Park, where the Lower East Side Ecology Center and the Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance are working with selected artists,designers, and the community to provide temporary programing and amenities to a former working pier while the Parks Department and the local Community Board work on a permanent design.

After the tour, guests are invited to join the LESEC for their Compost Workshop taking place at Battary Park near State St. and Pearl St.