NY Climate Tech: Jan 29 - Feb 5
Happy hours, film, picnics, composting, mushrooms, and more events this week!
Hi friends,
Somehow it’s already February, so we have a whole set of new opportunities and upcoming events for you this week. We also have a great new post by Nathan Paumier on NYC’s upcoming city-wide composting and its growing mycological industry.
Here are our picks for the week:
We’re looking forward to seeing you at our (sold out) 🗽 NY Climate Tech X Climate Film Festival January Meetup on Wednesday
If you didn’t RSVP, celebrate 10 years of Building Energy Exchange at their 🌇 A Decade of Excellence awards event, also on Wednesday
On Friday, head to the East Village for the monthly 🍻 Climate Tech First Friday Meetup hosted by our own Edo Italia at Belvedere Lounge
Wrap up the weekend on Sunday with the 🙋♀️ NYC Women And Climate Winter Indoor Picnic in the FiDi
As always, scroll down for the full list of upcoming events.
Cheers,
The Climate Tech Cities Team
🌎 Climate Tech Cities and Streetlife Ventures Startup and Talent Platforms
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NY Composting & Mushroom Magic
By
Read more from Nathan at BRB w/ Nathan P
Mandatory city-wide composting is coming to New York later this year. So is the ‘shroom boom.
New York is following in the sustainable footsteps of cities like San Francisco and Seattle in implementing a mandatory food waste collection system. And for good reason: food scraps make up about 20% of New York’s residential waste but account for a 58% of landfill methane emissions.
The repercussions of this waste beyond the city level are significant. If global food waste were a country, it would be the 3rd largest emitter behind China and the US.
In June 2023, lawmakers committed to bring the program’s coverage to 100% of the city. The policy is active in Brooklyn and Queens and will reach all 5 boroughs on October 7th, 2024.
The city is already making strides to achieve these goals. New York’s Department of Sanitation (DSNY) led a curbside composting pilot in Queens last year that diverted 12.7 million pounds of food and yard waste from landfills in 3 months. Earlier this January, Mayor Adams and DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch celebrated the expansion of Staten Island’s composting facility by 2,000%.
Roll-out plan for New York curbside composting, mapped (Source: DSNY)
Food waste will be collected curbside by New York City’s Department of Sanitation (DSNY). Property owners will be responsible to order a small designated brown bin or order a composting decal for any 55-gallon bin with a secured lid, free of charge. The city will require every citizen to separate the following: 🥩 Meat, 🥛 Dairy, 🦴 Bones, 🍋 Citrus peels, 🍕 Pizza boxes, 🥘 Food scraps, 🍲 Prepared foods, 📦 Food-soiled paper, and 🍂 Leaf & yard waste.
These streams are then combined and industrially composted to become fertilizer, mostly in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. The question is: will New Yorkers participate?
This is not New York’s first go at curbside composting. Parts of the city started such collection systems in 2015, which gathered a meager 5% of household food waste by 2017. The project was slashed in May 2020 due to budget cuts during COVID.
For reference, participation in the city’s recycling programs – by separating glass, plastic, cardboard, and metals – has barely increased over the past decade despite best efforts. New York’s recycling rate sits at 22%, paling in comparison to western counterparts like Seattle at 62.7%.
Nevertheless, NYC is making substantial investments to support the composting initiative. $100 million has already been pledged to acquire 244 dual-bin trucks to collect both trash and food waste in one go.
The city will allow residents a few months to adapt their disposal behaviors before imposing fines in April 2025, with fines starting at $25. How the city will determine who is not complying, especially in multi-family townhouses or high-rises, remains in question.
Many – myself included – are thrilled about NYC’s renewed city-wide composting efforts. For others, it may be more of a nuisance than a priority.
This city-wide initiative has the potential to collect and transform millions of pounds of food waste. At the same time, local food production and urban agriculture is booming. There’s a potentially faster and localized means of upcycling food scraps into fresh nutrients: mushrooms.
Mushrooms are the recyclers of the planet. They can bypass composting and readily grow on food waste streams like spent grains, coffee grounds, and stale bread. And many NYC-based start-ups are growing them closer to our plates right here in the five boroughs.
Mush Foods, an Israeli start-up that recently relocated to the New York area, grows mycelium on such food waste to make 50-50 meat-mushroom blends for food service. NYC-based start-up Afterlife converts food waste into standardized substrates to grow specialty mushrooms like shiitake, maitake, and lion’s mane in Queens. Brooklyn-based Smallhold also grows mushrooms on Flushing Ave on side streams like sawdust, seed hulls, and grains for distribution in stores and restaurants. After mushrooms grown on food waste are harvested, their growth medium can also be industrially composted.
Appetite for gourmet and medicinal mushrooms is growing. Yet the majority of such mushrooms – and up to 80% for shiitake – are imported from countries like China and Japan. Even if we doubled local production today, supply would not meet demand.
Mushrooms have long been the recyclers of the planet and might be NYC’s emerging food waste heroes. They can become a bigger part of NYC’s nutritious circular economy with the right systems and incentives.
What if residents who compost could receive mushroom blocks from their own food waste? Mushrooms can be delicious solutions towards better education and compliance. They deserve the same attention and consideration as composting in the city’s food waste reduction efforts. For those who want to grow gourmet mushrooms at home, here is my go-to grow kit and DIY instruction manual.
Read more from the author at his newsletter BRB w/ Nathan P
Opportunities
🏙️ NYC Smart City Testbed (Rolling)
The newly launched NYC Smart City Testbed Program creates a streamlined path to pilot emerging technologies with stakeholder city agencies. Accepted applicants will pilot their technology within New York City’s built environments with assistance from the Testbed team throughout the entire process.
🌱 NF.C Climate Lab (Due Feb. 7)
The NF.C. Climate Lab is a semi-annual, no-cost incubator program designed to spark growth for organizations building a healthier planet. Most importantly, you’ll receive 1:1 consulting support from NF.C (valued at $2,500) at no cost.
🏆 Keeling Curve Prize (Due Feb. 12)
The Global Warming Mitigation Project’s flagship program, the Keeling Curve Prize, awards $50,000 annually to each of 10 global projects that demonstrate the ability to reduce, replace, or remove greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and oceans.
🌳 NY Climate Resilience Grant Program (Due Feb. 24)
The Climate Resilience Grant Program (CRGP) offers grants of up to $50,000 to non-profit 501(c)(3) conservation and community organizations, municipalities, tribal entities and local and state agencies for projects that contribute to a world where people and nature can thrive. The goal of the program is to support partners in protecting the lands and waters critical for adapting to climate change.
🚇 Transit Innovation (Due Feb. 28)
The Transit Tech Lab provides an accelerated pathway for early to growth-stage companies to solve public transportation challenges for the largest transit agencies in North America.
Rolling Deadlines and Upcoming
🏙️ URBAN-X Accelerator (Rolling, program starts March)
🌬️ OpenAir Carbon Removal Challenge (Due Mar. 4)
🤩 Brand New Brand (Due Mar. 22)
🌇 $10M Empire Technology Prize (Due Mar. 24)
☀️ Mária Telkes Fellowship (Due Mar. 31)
⚒️ Pilots at the Brooklyn Army Terminal (Rolling)
🏢 Urban Tech XChange (Rolling)
Community Shoutouts
Bloomberg Green Festival (Seattle, WA)
40% off with a “presale” code this week! Bloomberg Green Festival is a global collaboration. Innovators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, artists, activists, musicians, and more will convene in our partner city to explore new solutions spanning the entire climate spectrum.
Events This Week
🏗️ Quest for Sustainable Future in Design & Build Trends: Sustainability Group: Wed, Jan 31
🗽 NY Climate Tech X Climate Film Festival January Meetup: Wed, Jan 31
🌇 Celebrate BE-Ex! A Decade of Excellence: Wed, Jan 31
🖼️ Unique NY ~ Private Tour of Poster House Exhibition: Wed, Jan 31
🔮 Meet the Psychedelic-Climate Leaders: Wed, Jan 31
🚗 The War on Cars: Wed, Jan 31
🧑💻 LEAP Spring 2024 Lecture in Climate Data Science: Carl Vondrick : Thu, Feb 1
🍻 Climate Tech First Friday Meetup: Fri, Feb 2
🧑⚖️ WCA's New York State Legislators Forum: Fri, Feb 2
🙋♀️ NYC Women And Climate Winter Indoor Picnic: Sun, Feb 4
Read on for more details about this week’s happenings and upcoming events this month
Upcoming Events
🧑⚖️ CUNY BMI Legislative Breakfast: Wed, Feb 7
🏡 The Conceivable Future: Planning Families in the Age of Climate Crisis: Wed, Feb 7
🌱 Nyack 2030 Climate Solutions Fair -- A Community Open House: Wed, Feb 7
🍹 The Carbonauts Sustainability Cocktails: Wed, Feb 7
🗽 The NY Climate Exchange Presents: What Does COP28 Mean for NYC?: Wed, Feb 7
🌍 Climate Techies NYC Monthly Member Sustainability and Networking Meetup: Thu, Feb 8
🔥 Take the Heat! Part 2: Building Core & Perimeter: Thu, Feb 8
🎨 Climate Arts Open Mic: Sun, Feb 11
🏗️ New York Build 2024: Tue, Feb 13
👗 From Targets to Transformation: Tackling Tier 4 Climate Collaboration: Tue, Feb 13
📚 Ajay Singh Chaudhary Presents The Exhausted of the Earth: Wed, Feb 14
👷 The Most Significant Infrastructure Projects Summit 2024: Thu, Feb 15
☕️ Climate Cafe + Circular Fashion Workshop: Fri, Feb 16
📚🌍 Saving Ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action: Fri, Feb 16
🌱 Green Drinks Brooklyn - February 2024: Wed, Feb 21
🍵 2024 Climate Café at the Brooklyn Public Library: Wed, Feb 21
♻️ GrowNYC Stop ‘n Swap: Sat, Feb 24
Event Details
🏗️ Quest for Sustainable Future in Design & Build Trends: Sustainability Group
When: Wed, Jan 31st from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Where: HAYVN, 320 Boston Post Road, Darien, CT
Join HAYVN's Sustainability and Social Impact Group to learn about sustainability and explore topics to make a difference. The upcoming event will focus on the quest for a sustainable future in design and build trends, with discussions led by industry-leading speakers. You can expect quality networking, light food and snacks, and a cost of $15 for general admission. HAYVN members can attend for free with a promo code.
🎬 NY Climate Tech X Climate Film Festival January Meetup
When: Wed, Jan 31st from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Where: Creature's at Selina Rooftop, 518 West 27th Street, New York, NY
Join NY Climate Tech and the Climate Film Festival for a joint meetup to kick off 2024! This monthly meetup is a casual and accessible way to connect with others in the climate community. At this event, you'll have the opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and learn more about what's happening in the world of climate. The Climate Film Festival will also be announcing the official launch of its open call for film submissions—stay tuned for more exciting information!
🖼️ Unique NY ~ Private Tour of Poster House Exhibition
When: Wed, Jan 31st from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Where: Poster House, 119 West 23rd Street, New York, NY
This exhibition explores the failure of posters to modify behavior related to environmental issues, while also acknowledging the impact they have had in shaping public debate. It charts a global history of environmental activism through a range of poster styles, avoiding the typical visual tropes associated with environmental messaging. The curator, Tim Medland, focuses on the history of visual and material culture, with research interests in environmental activism and sustainability.
🔮 Meet the Psychedelic-Climate Leaders
When: Wed, Jan 31st from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Where: Secret Social, 241 West 14th Street, New York, NY
Join the pioneers of the psychedelic-climate movement at this event to explore innovative solutions to the climate crisis. Learn from leaders like Amanda Joy Ravenhill, who have been inspired by psychedelic journeys to take action on climate change. Discover the latest projects and developments in this space while networking with like-minded individuals. RSVP to be a part of the event and gain insights into this cutting-edge trend.
🚗 The War on Cars
When: Wed, Jan 31st from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Where: Caveat, 21 A Clinton Street, New York, NY
The War on Cars podcast returns for a night of discussion and audience participation, tackling automobile dependence and efforts to undo the damage caused by cars. Join hosts Aaron Naparstek, Sarah Goodyear, and Doug Gordon as they share their expertise and insights on transportation policy, urban design, and the fight for livable cities.
🧑💻 LEAP Spring 2024 Lecture in Climate Data Science: Carl Vondrick
When: Thu, Feb 1st from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
Where: Columbia Innovation Hub - Tang Family Hall, 2276 12th Avenue, New York, NY
Join the Learning the Earth with Artificial Intelligence + Physics (LEAP) Center at Columbia for a Seminar on Climate Data Science. Abstract and bio to be announced.
🧑⚖️ WCA's New York State Legislators Forum
When: Fri, Feb 2nd from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
Where: 1133 Westchester Ave, White Plains, NY
Join us for an interactive dialogue with the NY State Senate and Assembly Delegation to discuss important issues such as Housing Reform, Climate Change, and Sustainability. The event includes networking, breakfast, and a program.
🙋♀️ NYC Women And Climate Winter Indoor Picnic
When: Sun, Feb 4th from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Where: 180 Maiden Ln, New York, NY
Join our free winter indoor picnic for the WAC community in NYC. Bring snacks and be zero-waste mindful. Kids are welcome. Network with professionals interested in climate. Check the main site for future events and join our Slack Community.
 | A guest post by
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A pleasure collaborating with you Alec, Sonam, and Kathy on this post – thank you for featuring me!