The Blueprint for Greening Fort Lee

Overview

Today we had the privilege of interviewing sustainable rights activist Eunnye Yang. Beginning her journey in Manhattan, Yang witnessed the routine discarding of substantial materials, including 30 office chairs and 4,000 books. For many, this might have been unremarkable. Still, for Yang, whose South Korean background instilled a deep respect for sustainable practices, this was heartbreaking—that moment sparked her commitment to reducing environmental waste in an era dominated by convenience.

Drawing from her experience with the EFC NY mentoring program, Yang founded the Critical Learning Club, an organization dedicated to educating environmentally conscious students. Yang's expertise was also pivotal in launching Fort Lee’s first composting program, CompostTogether, an initiative to reduce the town’s carbon footprint. Through our conversation, we’ll explore how Fort Lee can embrace sustainability on a larger scale and evolve into an even greener community.

Inspiring Sustainable Initiatives in Fort Lee

Ms. Yang draws attention to New York’s robust sustainability initiatives, where individual participation in composting and green spaces is more common. She emphasizes that for Fort Lee to adopt similar practices, residents must take proactive steps, from reducing their carbon footprint to participating in community activities that promote environmental stewardship. Small, community-driven projects such as “Biking Day” or “No Cellphone Day” can create public awareness and catalyze local sustainability efforts.

Leveraging Food Waste for a Greener Future

Yang highlights the importance of Eugene’s CompostTogether initiative, which collects food waste from local homes and businesses to create nutrient-rich compost. This initiative reduces waste sent to landfills and revitalizes community gardens and local green spaces, making food scraps valuable. The long-term impact of these actions is far-reaching, as composting helps reduce municipal waste management costs, allowing funds to be reallocated to other community projects.

Community Engagement and Education for Sustainability

Yang advocates for integrating environmental education into Fort Lee’s school curriculum, emphasizing hands-on experiences that connect sustainability with entrepreneurship. By encouraging emotional ties to ecological issues, young people can be inspired to take ownership of sustainability initiatives. For instance, since Fort Lee High School has a well-rounded Academy of Finance program, they can offer courses in sustainable entrepreneurship to teach students how to launch an environmental organization successfully. 

Collaborating for a Greener Fort Lee

Collaboration with local governments and organizations is crucial for sustainable programs like CompostTogether to thrive. By partnering with entities such as the Fort Lee Regional Chamber of Commerce, CompostTogether can attract private investment, scaling its impact. Promoting sustainability could also lead to significant economic growth in Fort Lee, potentially creating well-paying jobs in the green economy. For example, New Jersey is poised for growth in this sector. Governor Phil Murphy’s administration dedicates $7 million toward training residents for green jobs, including roles in renewable energy and construction, through the Green Workforce Training Grant Challenge. Fort Lee has the opportunity to become a leader in sustainability, benefiting from these investments and creating thousands of jobs as the state moves toward achieving a 100% clean energy future by 2050.

Conclusion 

With the ambitious plans ahead, Fort Lee stands at the forefront of opportunities to propel its greener movement. While community and government collaboration is necessary, Ms. Yang emphasizes that true sustainability goes into translating these efforts into tangible change. Whether biking 5 hours to New York or going sailing in the Critical Learning Program, she believes that building trust and commitment and transforming emotions into purposeful actions are the real catalysts for meaningful transformation.