THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2024 Page 7 ~ GUEST COMMENTARY ~ Saving our Climate is Saving Our Homes O n Monday, November 25th the Revere City Council unanimously passed a curbside composting ordinance and pilot program for Revere residents. Composting is a natural recycling of organic material like food scraps, leaves and yard trimmings into a valuable and soil enriching organic byproduct while preventing them from ending up in landfi lls. The curbside program is intended to have a company do “regular pick-up of compostable material from residents’ homes” to be composted off -site in a regulated manner. “We are thrilled to see Revere moving forward with food waste prevention and composting,” said Cindy Luppi, National Field Director, Clean Water Action. “In one smart step, we are reducing pollution, addressing the climate crisis and reducing reliance on landfi lls and the WIN Waste trash incinerator — a home run for us all.” Over 50% of greenhouse gas emissions in landfi lls come from food scraps, and those emissions create a gas called methane. In the United States, Municipal Solid Waste landfills are the third largest emitter of methane gas, which acts like a thick blanket over our planet; therefore, speeding up climate change. This gas is over 50 times stronger at warming the planet than carbon dioxide. In addition to reducing the amount of methane gas that cities produce, composting creates a valuable byproduct that serves to capture climate changing carbon and prevent topsoil erosion, which reduces water quality, and helps communities, particularly coastal communities, in their storm water management vital to protecting homes. The ordinance, which was authored and fi led by Revere Councillor-at-Large Juan Pablo Jaramillo, creates a voluntary program that residents who want to participate can opt-in to. “This program gives working families the opportunity to participate in climate mitigation measures from their homes. Climate change is real and as a coastal community our homes, our children, and grandchildren are at grave risk if we don’t take bold and immediate action to reduce production of planet warming gases,” said Jaramillo. The ordinance directs mitigation money from the new WIN waste disposal contract toward the pilot the city will begin as result of this ordinance and directs the mayor to create subsidies and/or fee waivers for working-class families who would like to participate and residents over the age of 65. Jaramillo added, “I am proud of the work community leaders like Loretta LaCentra and Cindy Luppi, my colleagues and I did all year to get this piece of legislation across the fi nish line. This pilot will reduce our reliance on the WIN incinerator that continues to pollute our Rumney Marsh and the air residents in neighborhoods like the Point of Pines and Riverside breathe while giving the opportunity to residents of all ages and income levels to participate in creating a more climate resilient community.” Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya, who represents the Point of Pines and Riverside neighborhoods and is a co-sponsor of the ordinance, said, “The residents of the Pines and Riverside deserve alternatives and solutions that protect the air and water in the neighborhood they live and I am proud that we are taking an important fi rst step toward delivering just that by diverting waste from the harmful incinerator next door” in reference to the WIN incinerator, which has long been a subject of concern for the residents of the neighborhoods she represents. While this program is a pilot and voluntary for residents who want to participate, it is set up to track any waste tonnage diverted from the costly traditional waste disposal program and to assess the savings it generates to Revere taxpayers directing those savings to expand the program. Per the ordinance, the Mayor’s Offi ce must put out a request for proposal (RFP) for a company to do the composting work within the next 90 days. According to Tom Skwierawski, the City’s Chief of Planning and Community Development, the city has already put one together and has applied for additional state and federal grants to make this program as comprehensive and accessible as possible for Revere residents. There Should Be a Present and Future, Too By Sal Giarratani E ugene O’Neill once wrote, “There is no present or future, only the past happens over and over again — now.” I thought of this bit of philosophy after having read what happened on December 7 during the Revere Human Rights Commission’s (HRC) regular monthly meeting. The meetings always start off with the Land Acknowledgement in which, as always, the Pawtucket tribe gets recognized as the original holder of the land encompassed by what is Revere today. Then, the Mission Statement of the commission is read. The members then watch a video of a recent visit the group took to Plymouth to learn about the Indigenous Wampanoags. Following the video the group reportedly gathered in a Circle Group. Members of the commission were invited to discuss topics that touched on human rights issues. Then after that, the meeting, which lasted 90 minutes, was adjourned. I have nothing against creating a city Human Rights Commission but what really was accomplished at this very ritualistic monthly meeting that has any real bearing on what is happening today in the City of Revere? Sounds like Eugene O’Neill’s quote says it all. Can anyone talk about today anymore or how we proceed in our shared future? After such a contentious political year, we need to fi nd ways to come together today on the values most of us share with one another. How we treat each other and respect one another. How we grow today at this moment in time and helping to create a future full of hope in our shared humanity. I hate to say this but the ninety minutes spent at the latest monthly HRC meeting seemed like a waste of ninety minutes to me. Finally, if the HRC members want to stay relative, talk about today and tomorrow. We can’t change yesterday; we can only learn from it. Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? 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