We have a very serious plastics problem, says Margate Solicitor John Scott Abbott.
According to the Margate Green Team, contaminants from construction sites are getting into storm water drains. They’re airborne too, drifting into the neighborhood.
Listen to audio from recent Margate Commission mtg about this issue:
Ordinance to be introduced that looks to control plastic contaminants coming from construction sites.
Photos shared with Margate City Hall raising awareness. We highly recommend an ordinance be introduced to address this hazardous material.
Downbeach Real Estate veteran, Sherri Lilienfeld, shared detailed pictures of offending Margate work sites. White plastic dust everywhere. On the lawns, in the street, in the air.
Sherri Lilienfeld, she’s pushing this hard.
Margate Solicitor John Scott Abbott
Plastic pollution threatens not only the environment, but also our health and that of future generations.
Commissioner Maury Blumberg said he’s afraid of being criticized. ‘It could be embarrassing if we don’t enforce.’
The Mayor and Commissioners are familiar with Margate work-site issues. Mike Collins, Maury Blumberg and Cathy Horn have decades worth of experience in new construction, building supplies, hardware, electric, garage doors, etc.
‘Forever’ plastics often go airborne too. Likely to already be in your body. It’s easier to keep work sites tidy rather than trying to clean plastics out of the ocean.’
Plastics are everywhere. A real problem. Getting into the food supply. Kid’s playgrounds. This is more serious than rising sea levels.
Solicitor John Scott Abbott
Lilienfeld, also known as ‘Sustainable Sherri’, is an active member of Margate’s Green Team.
Lilienfeld noted the use of stickers on the back of trucks, How’s our driving? Maybe we should consider using How’s our work site? signs.
Other options: Take pictures.
Share the pics on local websites like DownbeachBUZZ, or other social media sites.
See something? Say something.
Post a pic. Make it easier for Margate officials to identify and document non-compliant work-sites. This could be a more efficient way to enforce city ordinance.
Margate Business Admin Ken Mosca talked about compliance and enforcement. Maybe during the permitting process, we provide a warning flyer?
Who should we hold accountable? The general contractor or the sub-contractor? Solicitor Abbott: Some contractors can’t speak English.
Create public awareness. Clean up your mess.
Greater awareness and resident participation could be accomplished by having live video / ZOOM streams of municipal meetings, something that Mayor Mike Collins and Business Admin Ken Mosca do not want.
Builders and contractors must clean up everyday after they’re finished with the site. We have mud, sand and dirty water in our streets and pavements.
Building equipment is there over a weekend (3 days) and holidays. Mud gets flushed into the street by the curb and you step into it when getting out of the car.
Building permits do not include fouling up our streets and walkways. Thank you.
Responses from mayor and solicitor seem very weak. They should enforce simple trash policy on all contractors. All items mentioned are a type of debris or trash.
Who to give the violation to? Follow similar rules that OSHA follows. Give violation to contractor or subcontractor that you know is creating the problem.
If you don’t know which sub is doing it, give violation to general contractor as he is in command, and in charge of the worksite. Let him argue it later. It’s up to him to control all people he contracts with.
If you start doing this for any infraction, most of this will stop.
Terrific job Sherri! Go Margate Green Team!!
Thanks Susan. You’re a valued member of the team and it’s a group effort!
Thanks for taking up this cause Sherri!
Does keeping construction sites clean include all the NAILS in the street? I walk through Margate and Ventnor several days a week and pick up nails and screws from the streets and sidewalks. Have had nails in tires again and again. Shouldn’t they make some kind of effort to use (forgive my ignorance) a big magnet periodically throughout the work day to remove the nails and screws from the streets adjacent to their work sites?
Perhaps they can deploy an army of microscopic robots that are deployed to pick up nails and screws. Or, just use common sense and sweep up their worksites.
Thanks for your comment. The proposed ordinance addresses ALL trash which would include nails, recyclables, fiberglass, etc. The microplastics are are huge problem and main point of discussion, but every form of trash and contamination must be handled and disposed of properly!