TESTIMONY
Celeste Perez on Supporting Intro Number 55 for a Water Barge-Based Waste System in NYC
1:53:18
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158 sec
Celeste Perez advocates for the adoption of intro number 55 to transition NYC's waste export system to a water barge-based method, aiming to alleviate environmental injustices and reduce pollution.
- Perez highlights that over 15,000 tons of garbage are produced daily in NYC, with 75% managed by just four community districts, leading to significant environmental and health impacts.
- She emphasizes that the passage of intro number 55 would replace truck-based waste transport with a more efficient and less polluting water barge system.
- Data shows the current waste system disproportionately affects communities of color living in poverty, with waste facilities more likely to be cited in these areas.
- She urges Mayor Adams and the city council to pass intro number 55 to reduce truck traffic, pollution, and odors in overburdened communities.
- Celeste expresses Nijia's commitment to working with the committee on sanitation and council members to achieve a more equitable waste system.
Celeste Perez
1:53:18
Thank you.
1:53:21
So good afternoon now.
1:53:23
My name is Celeste Perez.
1:53:25
I am the state climate policy manager at the New York City Environmental justice alliance, also known as Nijia.
1:53:31
And we are also a member of the transformed Don't Trash Coalition.
1:53:35
I'm in New York City over 15,000 tons of garbage are produced daily, generating massive transportation impacts to and from privately owned and operated waste transport stations along the waterfront.
1:53:46
The current solid waste system is an ongoing environmental injustice in which 75% of this the city's private waste is so trucked in and out of just 4 community districts, some of which have the highest rates of asthma such as North Brooklyn, the South Bronx, and Southeast Queens.
1:54:03
For this reason, Nijia is here to express our strong support of intro number 55, which would require DSNY to begin using municipal marine transfer stations to up commercial waste.
1:54:14
Passage of this legislation would hasten the long overdue transition of New York City's polluting truck based waste export system to a water barge based system, where one barge can replace the capacity of 4818 wheel tractor trailer long haul trucks which is equivalent to 96 truck trips from spewing pollutants into local streets.
1:54:37
While the total amount of waste handled at private transfer stations in New York City has decreased approximately 17% since implementation of local law 152 of of 2018, newly released data from the Department of Sanitation shows that the system is still remaining grossly unfair and unequal.
1:54:56
Private waste transfer stations are more likely to be cited in communities with a higher percentage of people of color living below the poverty line.
1:55:03
And bring with them health harming emissions according to the New York City Commptroller's recently released audit report on the city's fair share compliance.
1:55:12
While there are 24 waste facilities crammed into these overburden community districts, a total of 45 other districts have no waste facilities at all.
1:55:23
We urge Mayor Adams and the city council to take immediate steps to relieve these communities of excess of truck traffic pollution and odors while reducing the miles that are dangerous and polluting waste trucks all through New York City streets by passing intro 55 of 2024.
1:55:40
And Nijia Alongside TDT looks forward to continuing engagement with the committee on sanitation council members representing impacted communities to ensure that we can continue to make rapid progress.
1:55:52
Towards a more just an equitable waste system.
1:55:55
Thank you.
