Bridges and Tunnels going green

The MTA Bridges and Tunnels has reduced their carbon footprint in an effort to become a cleaner, greener agency.
These efforts include the changing of 190 mercury vapor light bulbs to LED lights on the RFK Bridge this past week in advance of Earth Day. The Verrazano has already received this change and the Throgs Neck is up next.
The agency has planted 76 new trees along their bridges and tunnels and reduced paper consumption by 4.25 million sheets in the past five years.
The push to recycle and introduce alternative fuel vehicles in their fleet has further reduced the agency’s carbon footprint.
In 2010 alone, the agency recycled 418.5 tons of mixed paper, 209 tons of plastic and nearly 84 tons of metal. Their fleet of E-85 fueled – which is a mixture of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol – vehicles has increased to 150 from 43 five years ago. They also utilize 30 hybrid/electric vehicles.
The cleaning of the bridges and tunnels has gone green as well. Since large amounts of soap and water are used in these cleanings, the agency uses only cleaning products with the EcoLogo or Green Seal of approval which has little or no impact on the environment.