QUESTION
Why is NYC's curbside organics collection marketed as composting when used mostly for methane production?
0:16:18
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111 sec
Deputy Commissioner Joshua Goodman explains the NYC Department of Sanitation's marketing of curbside organics collection as composting aims for broader participation by using familiar terms despite its main use for methane production.
- The primary goal is beneficial use: converting waste to compost or energy, reducing landfill use and greenhouse gas reliance.
- Marketing focuses on 'composting' as a familiar term to encourage more public participation over technical terms like 'beneficial use' or 'anaerobic digestion'.
- Goodman clarifies that composting, in this context, includes various forms of waste utilization to engage a wider audience.
Shaun Abreu
0:16:18
So let's start off My first question is, most of the organics collected through the city's curbside program is used for methane production rather than compost.
0:16:28
I am concerned that some New Yorkers may feel misled about what is happening with their organic waste.
0:16:34
Could you describe the agency's decision to market its curbside organics collection as a curbside comp posting program and related relatedly, can you just Scribe the thought process behind labeling your smart bins with large letters that read compost in all caps.
Joshua Goodman
0:16:50
Of course.
0:16:50
Thank you, Mister chair.
0:16:52
Good fit.
0:16:53
The the underlying basis of this program is beneficial use.
0:16:57
The material gets out of the landfills off the street and instead is put to good use either as finished compost for use in our parks and gardens or as a way to heat our homes and reduce the city's reliance on greenhouse gases or on on fracture natural gas.
0:17:12
I think that composting is a term that New Yorkers are familiar with.
0:17:16
If we put beneficial use on the side of the bin or anaerobic digestion on the side of the bin, it's not really describing what happens in a meaningful way.
0:17:25
And and it's not getting people to wanna participate.
0:17:27
You know, our work over the last several years has really been focused on helping these programs to reach the widest possible audience we think beneficial use is the core of the program.
Shaun Abreu
0:17:37
Yeah.
0:17:38
I think I mean, people who are putting their food scraps in these bins.
0:17:41
I I mean, a lot of my constituents, I don't think they're aware that it's what what what it's being used for.
0:17:48
So if the messaging that it's should be broader than that.
0:17:52
I mean I mean, maybe that would, I think, be more informative for for my constituents who you know, when they put in their food scraps, they think this is resulting in just composting.
Joshua Goodman
0:18:03
And and it is resulting in compost.
0:18:05
Right?
0:18:05
Because it's substantial amount of it because and
Shaun Abreu
0:18:07
we'll get into what percentage now.
