MTS: A Negative Influence on the UES

What Is A Marine Transfer Station?

A Marine Transfer Station is a facility that functions as a transition between people’s homes and a landfill. Garbage gets imported to the transfer station, and this garbage is then shipped to a landfill (by water).

26,000 kids access Asphalt Green’s facilities annually. Some of their programs include baseball, gymnastics and swimming. The swimming program is especially important because swimming is the 2nd leading cause of child death. Many kids participate in this swimming program.

Asphalt Green is an enjoyable place. Kids love

to play baseball, soccer, etc. This boy is excited to be up to bat. He is in the Yorkville

baseball team.

The Effect of The Marine Transfer Station on the CommunityThere are many negative effects that the Marine Transfer Station will have on the community. There will be health concerns, safety concerns, and economic effects on the residential area.

Residential EffectThe Marine Transfer Station is going to affect residential areas/value. Apartments/buildings will be worth a lot less money because of this Marine Transfer Station. Asphalt Green’s value will also decrease, as well as neighboring businesses’ value.

HEALTH CONCERNSThere will be many health concerns revolving around the Marine Transfer Station. First of all, there will be a lot of garbage. There will also be many garbage trucks, which will create hazardous pollutants and dangerous noise levels. Some of these pollutants are carcinogens. These can cause cancer. This is especially important because while kids are playing, they will have increased levels of respiration.

Safety ConcernsThere will also be many safety concerns pertaining to the Marine Transfer Station. Garbage trucks will be on the streets while parents and kids are trying to access Asphalt Green’s facilities. This will make crossing streets by Asphalt Green much more dangerous. In addition, there will be traffic because of these garbage trucks.

Did you know that a Marine Transfer Station is going to be placed on 91st and East End? A Marine Transfer Station is a facility that functions as a transition between people’s homes and a landfill. Garbage gets imported to the transfer station, and this garbage is then shipped to a landfill (by water). A Marine Transfer Station was located on the Upper East Side until 1999.

I strongly believe that the Marine Transfer Station is going to be harmful to our community in many different ways. It will affect residential value, as well as create a hazardous environment and it will affect people’s health in a negative way.

There are many health concerns revolving around the Marine Transfer Station on 91st Street. For instance, asthma will be more prevalent in our society. The transfer station will expose children to hazardous pollutants. This will have an especially negative impact on children because children are still experiencing lung development, and they are more vulnerable to these pollutants, which can damage lung tissue. Many consequences of this lung damage will persist throughout adulthood. In addition, carcinogens will be released, and these chemicals can cause cancer. Because of increased respiratory rates, carcinogens will be more harmful. According to Study Claims East 91st Street Transfer Station Harms Kids' Health,

“Garbage truck emissions will prompt up to an 8 percent uptick in pediatric hospitalizations”.There are also safety concerns pertaining to the Marine Transfer Station. First of all, traffic/garbage trucks will threaten children and adults that are accessing Asphalt Green’s facilities. According to Pledge 2 Protect, “garbage trucks have the highest pedestrian rate of any vehicle on the road”. 500 of these trucks will cut through Asphalt Green! Additionally, there may be displacement of garbage from floods because the Marine Transfer Station is located in Flood Zone A.

Our community is also going to suffer economically. Firstly, Asphalt Green’s value will decrease. Its revenue has increased by 9.7 million dollars after the past MTS closed. Furthermore, the transfer station will not be beneficial to residents/owners of apartments, for the value will decline. Lastly, the large supply of garbage in the facility will attract rodents, some of which can carry diseases. These rodents may infest businesses, which is obviously not an advantage for these business owners.

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On the other hand, there are also a couple reasons of why the Mayor and the City Council support the MTS. The Mayor claims that the Upper East Side is too spoiled, and he stated that, “Too many times, it’s just been poor neighborhoods that have had these kinds of things foisted on them”. In addition, Christine Quinn, a City Council representative, stated that, “We need to recognize that every neighborhood needs to do its fair share in dealing with New York City’s garbage. We also need to realize that to get less trucks on the street we need to utilize the river and barges and Marine Transfer Stations”. I do not think that these are valid reasons to put the MTS on the Upper East Side.

In conclusion, the Marine Transfer Station will not be beneficial for our society in many different ways: economically, and from a health/safety point of view. There are many things that

people are doing to try to prevent the Marine Transfer Station from getting installed, such as taking a pledge not to vote for anyone that supports the Marine Transfer Station. We need to do something to help also! 

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