Climate Justice and New Environmental Policies: Binghamton, New York
Description
The blue bag garbage system in downtown Binghamton was implemented in an attempt to limit the amount of trash produced by people in the city by charging individual residents by the bags they purchase, rather than requiring them to pay a tipping fee tax. Ever since its application, little has been explored regarding the success of this system in terms of its sustainable implications and effects on the residents of Binghamton. This research seeks to identify the equity and efficiency of this system through the tracking of garbage production, comparison of monetary data before and after the system's implementation, and the surveying of residents who have experienced this shift in policy. This information is helpful in mitigating future sustainable policy changes and balancing crucial environmental changes, while ensuring these sustainable adjustments do not excessively burden low-income people.