Interview With Ya Liu

Interview With Ya Liu

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Published On: September 19th, 2019|Categories: Climate, Interview, Your Questions Answered, Zero Waste|

Your Questions Answered

The Toward Zero Waste Cary, NC Facebook group had some questions for the candidates running for Town Council District D about our environment. Toward Zero Waste decided to meet with each candidate and get some responses for our members. Here is the interview we had with Ya Liu, candidate for Cary Town Council, District D.

Are you a climate denier?
No

Do you believe that humans are a contributing factor in climate change?
Absolutely humans are a contributing factor.

Where do you believe Cary should be focusing it’s resources when it comes to climate change: working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or mitigation of climate change effects?
Mitigation of climate

Do you believe the city is doing enough to move encourage citizens to move toward solar?
No I don’t think so.

Do you support curbside composting as a public utility in Cary?
Yes. I’d like to set up a program. I don’t know what the funding resources are but we can work with the town and see where in the budget it could come from to make that program happen . I think our residents would really want to get involved with composting but some don’t know how so if our town can provide the vehicle then that makes it easier for people to get involved in this and that would be terrific.

Would you support city architecture that includes green roofs?
I would totally support that.


The Wake County landfill is estimated to be at capacity by 2045, what is your plan for how to deal with Cary’s waste in the future?

So this is urgent. Composting will help. I’d like to explore the possibilities to make recycling profitable, use recycled products and make recycled products. That would make a big difference. Also, explore other options. Learn from other cities how they reduce the waste. Education too, educating the public. Educate through schools, educate everyone. Everyone wants to help and they realize the importance of doing this but don’t know how, so I would love to learn more.


Do you believe in Cary’s water filtration methods are safe or if they need improvement what would you change?

GenX was actually discovered by a Duke professor who is a Cary resident. She was involved in doing that research and just by chance tested her tap water. So I’m wondering what is the missing link? I’d love to learn more and learn how we can monitor our water quality. It’s our water- it’s going into our bodies, into our kids’ bodies.


What do you think about the use of Roundup (Glyphosate) and similar chemicals by the Town of Cary?

We need to educate people about the impact it has on the environment. We need to find alternatives, what are the other options? Maybe other cities have options we could use.


What are your thoughts about a curbside textile recycling program like Raleigh and Apex?

I would encourage that in Cary. That’s a great way to reduce our waste.


What are your thoughts on the recycling crisis and how do you see the Town of Cary dealing with its plastic problem?

I see in some grocery stores they ask people to bring back the plastic bags. I think we if can encourage businesses to recycle like that and also to educate them about the problem and look for alternate options.


Thoughts on a plastic bag fee or ban?

Or incentive, if a business finds a way maybe we could find an incentive for them to do that.


Thoughts about the EAB’s tree recommendations?

I think that planting more trees is just so essential. The trees we’ve been cutting down every year. I think we should plant one tree for every citizen over the next 10 years. I actually talked to the town manager and he said he could make that happen. If the town can contribute 50% and the citizen can contribute 50% of the cost then the citizen can plant a tree in their yard to increase the number of trees in Cary, I would love to make that happen. I would also like to minimize the number of tress that they cut down during construction.


Do you support the bond referendum?

Yes I do.


How would you manage the Dillon rule limiting what the city can do?

I would like to see what we could do to push the agenda, and if it’s something important I would want to see what we could do about pushing the agenda forward to do anything we can do.

Where is the environment on your list of priorities?
It’s the #1 issue for me. I think that is a big difference between me and my opponents.

How would you deal with climate deniers on the town council?
Educate them and work with them. They just need to know and learn. Knowledge is empowering.

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About the Author:

I’m a wife and mom of two school-aged girls, living in Cary, NC. I started moving “toward zero waste” in September of 2015 after reading Bea Johnson’s book Zero Waste Home. Bea’s single jar of trash a year for a family of four didn’t seem possible for my family of four, but I knew we could do better and was inspired to try.

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