By Dylan Hall
Cheektowaga, NY – The Citizens' Environmental Coalition and other environmental groups are calling upon the Town of Cheektowaga to reinstate its suspended recycling program. They included the town on a list released Thursday of the 12 greatest polluters in New York State.
Activist Donna Hosmer said the town's practice of incinerating recyclable plastics releases toxins into the air. She likened the Niagara Falls incineration plant to a giant smoking cigarette.
"We do not allow cigarette smoking near our youth, yet the children of Niagara Falls are forced to breathe chemical as much as 100 times more dangerous to their growing immune systems," Hosmer said.
In addition to Cheektowaga, the Citizens' Environmental Coalition presented "Polluter Awards" to eleven other New York corporations, government agencies and politicians. Those accused of posing a threat to public health include Eastman Kodak, Governor George Pataki and General Electric.