News From a Changing Planet: Under a Yellow Sky
In 2014, the city of New York gave FreshDirect over $100 million to open a warehouse in Mott Haven, over objections from the community that they were already severely burdened by air pollution – from highways, Hunts Point market, two waste transfer stations – and that diesel truck traffic would add significantly to this. A collaborative study between South Bronx Unite and Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health found that the grocery delivery service added between 10 and 40% more traffic. In 2018, Amazon opened a “fulfillment center” in Mott Haven; it currently has six warehouses in the Bronx.
So when we order things from Amazon or Fresh Direct, not only are we contributing carbon dioxide emissions from the production of those goods and their delivery to us, but we are also adding to the pollution experienced by the people who live next to these mushrooming warehouses and “fulfillment centers,” who may be less likely to consume these goods and use these services. It’s worth keeping in mind that we are all connected, all the time, whether we’re aware of it or not.
