The Department of Environmental Protection, which has been doing a better-than-expected job working with the community around the filtration plant, thought it was doing local residents a good turn by providing them with hundreds of garbage cans like the one pictured on the left.

We aren’t going to lambaste the agency for this. At least they’re trying to win some points with the community. But they seem to have a tin ear when it comes to really understanding what residents want.

First of all, the garbage cans have nothing to do with the filtration project. The DEP has other more substantial means of disposing of the tons and tons of bedrock it will be blasting out of the park over the next two years. We’ll be reminded of that as we watch giant trucks filled with the stuff enter and leave the park at two-minute intervals every day.

The DEP would do better to address actual local concerns that are well established, particularly worries about the exacerbation of asthma among community residents.

We urge the agency strongly consider Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz’ suggestion to plant hundreds of trees in the communities surrounding the filtration plant, particularly in Norwood. That would be a much more genuine expression of concern for the community.

The city should also take it a step further and closely monitor area residents, especially children, who suffer from asthma. Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión has requested that the city Health Department take such action, but he’s still waiting for an answer.