QUESTION
Why are compost smart bins on the Upper West Side frequently overfilled, and what plans are in place to address this?
1:01:11
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157 sec
Deputy Commissioner Joshua Goodman and First Deputy Commissioner Javier Lohan discuss the robust usage of compost smart bins on the Upper West Side and planned adjustments to address overfilling issues.
- Full compost bins are considered a positive sign of strong program usage, indicating success and community engagement.
- Bins are typically emptied daily except Sundays, with plans to monitor and possibly adjust servicing post-Manhattan curbside service rollout.
- Operational adjustments have been made, such as additional servicing on Saturdays and Mondays when necessary.
- Enforcement for failure to separate organic material residentially starts in April 2025, potentially impacting smart bin usage patterns.
Shaun Abreu
1:01:11
So, you know, I get a lot of emails and complaints from my constituents in the upper west side, especially about their Campos smart bins being full all the time.
1:01:22
And I could tell you what they do.
1:01:23
They go to community composters.
1:01:25
Right?
1:01:25
They go to their farmers markets as as an alternative But for me, that speaks to potentially a larger problem.
1:01:32
I don't know if there is.
1:01:34
Is there a lack of servicing of these smart bins?
1:01:36
We are very we have lot on the upper west side, a lot of these marbers, which we're grateful for that infrastructure, but they're full every time.
1:01:44
I mean, what what what do I say to my constituents?
Joshua Goodman
1:01:47
So I I would say a few things about that.
1:01:50
First is, this is the best problem to have.
1:01:53
Right?
1:01:53
People are using a program that diverts material from landfill.
1:01:57
That's really a testament to how much interest there is to the success of the program is is so gratifying to all of us, and and thank you for your advocacy in getting your constituents to use these.
1:02:08
They are emptied every day except Sunday, and we are going to look at what that usage looks like, not just after Manhattan receives curbside service because we do anticipate that many people currently use the smart composting bins when instead do curbside separation in their building.
1:02:26
But also after under the law, DSNY can begin writing tickets for failure to source separate organic material on the residential side in April of 25.
1:02:38
So after that is when you'll probably see a lot of the larger buildings, really, even though it is mandatory as soon as service begins under the law, the law is written.
1:02:47
Does not give us the ability to enforce until the spring.
1:02:51
And so when that happens, we're gonna really take a look at the smart bins and and see what usage of them looks like that.
Javier Lohan
1:02:58
Can I also add one thing?
1:03:00
So one of the things that we looked at when we rolled out these smart bins was how to service them.
1:03:06
Right?
1:03:06
So we had to keep it cost neutral.
1:03:09
And we're servicing those those bins are being serviced by our school truck routes, which are they're dispatched on our 7 PM shift every night.
1:03:17
One of the we have made adjustments operationally, so our collection operations office looks at the app closely.
1:03:24
And they may we've made some adjustments over the few months where we're seeing some Saturday night services necessary.
1:03:32
And maybe some Monday morning services necessary.
1:03:34
But we are making adjustments as it goes along.
1:03:36
And like deputy commissioner Goodman said, once Manhattan rolls out, we'll adjust, you know, a little bit closely there because then by then everybody should have, you know, there's there's the service weekly.
1:03:46
So that's one of the things I wanted to add.
