REMARKS
Gale Brewer's statement on Intro 130 for composting plant waste in city parks
0:37:10
·
164 sec
Gale A. Brewer, a council member, advocates for the introduction of composting facilities for plant waste in NYC parks to enhance environmental sustainability and park aesthetics.
- Her legislation, intro 130, establishes composting facilities near the 10 largest parks in each borough to collect plant waste.
- Composting reduces landfill reliance, greenhouse gas emissions, and improves park cleanliness and aesthetics.
- Brewer shares the success story of Riverside Park's first on-site composting facility, highlighting significant waste reduction.
- The initiative has garnered support from various organizations and looks to expand city-wide with the park department's collaboration.
Gale A. Brewer
0:37:10
But I thank you tremendously for sticking this bill in, and it is, as you know, intro 130 of 2024 composting plant waste in parks, particularly our large parks.
0:37:21
This particular legislation would just established composting facility for plant waste collection near the 10 largest parks in each barrel throughout the city.
0:37:30
Carlene, I think we know 100 of pounds of plant trimmings leaves and other organic materials are collected in black plastic bags and shipped landfills.
0:37:38
This is not, you know, only this is a waste.
0:37:42
It also contributes to greenhouse gas emission through decomposition.
0:37:46
I think you all know that.
0:37:48
Composting does several things.
0:37:49
1 reduces reliance on landfills.
0:37:52
Instead of taking out valuable space and contributing to methane emissions, plant waste will be transformed into new Street Rich compost, a valuable resource for city landscaping and community gardens.
0:38:02
2 promotes environmental sustainability.
0:38:04
I think you know that.
0:38:06
Comp hosting reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste, transportation, and landfill decomposition, and it really does enhance Number 3, Park Aesthetics.
0:38:16
By diverting organic waste from landfills, we can keep our parks cleaner and healthier.
0:38:21
I do love Riverside Park.
0:38:22
Everybody knows that.
0:38:23
And I could not believe what a difference it made when composting showed up in the what was really just a empty driveway space.
0:38:31
Along with Earth Matter.
0:38:32
It's not even one of the 10 biggest parts.
0:38:35
I thought it was, but it's not.
0:38:36
Along with Earth Matter New York, Riverside Park established first on-site facility for composting yard waste by converting an existing waste transfer parking lot.
0:38:47
I didn't know what's called a waste trans it was just a parking lot.
0:38:50
It into a composting facility.
0:38:53
In just 6 months, the park has prevented 926.5 cubic yards of organic waste.
0:39:02
That's about 90 dump trucks from reaching landfills.
0:39:05
Think of what we could do city wide, This initiative has widespread support from organizations such as big, big reuse.
0:39:13
You'll hear from them soon, but also from Khan Edison.
0:39:17
New York is for parks, Riverside Park Conservancy, Earth Matter, New York, Center for 0 waste design, and many others.
0:39:25
It also made a testimony to the committee.
0:39:27
I'm sure others will also we've gotten lots of good feedback We look forward to working with the park department on the bill to further enhance the benefit of a program like this for our parks, our environment, and at city as a whole.
0:39:41
I wanna thank the staff from the speaker's office, Julia Puder, Cynthia Horny from my office.
0:39:46
I could not believe what Riverside Park did at 6 months.
0:39:49
So I hope we can do that in all the large parks.
0:39:52
And thank you, mister chair.
