TESTIMONY
Kate Wimsatt, Director of Zero Waste Schools at GrowNYC, on the Elimination of Funding for GrowNYC's Zero Waste Schools Program
7:57:20
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141 sec
Wimsatt expresses concern that the loss of funding for GrowNYC's Zero Waste Schools program will jeopardize the implementation of school curbside composting in NYC.
- GrowNYC has had a 13-year partnership with NYC schools and the Department of Sanitation to provide educational support for composting
- With the elimination of FY25 funding, 25 full-time zero waste educators will be lost
- While all NYC schools now have curbside composting service, many are not fully participating
- The loss of dedicated educational support will make it difficult for schools to fully integrate waste sorting habits
- A teacher notes that without outside organizations like GrowNYC, teachers lack support to coordinate sustainability efforts
- Wimsatt urges the mayor and city council to fund GrowNYC's Zero Waste Schools program to support school personnel in greenhouse gas-reducing behaviors
Kate Wimsatt
7:57:20
Thank you.
7:57:21
Thank you, Tyra Brown, and then Tyra Brown.
7:57:22
My visit the committee.
7:57:23
My name is Kate Wimsatt, and I'm the director of grown by C Zero Waste Schools.
7:57:26
Just one month, the much anticipated and celebrated annual milestone will be reached when schools break for the summer.
7:57:32
As I'm sure you'll all remember, it's an exciting time.
7:57:35
Less exciting.
7:57:35
In 1 month, the successful and effective 13 year partnership with growing my Cisner with schools with DSNY and NY CPS.
7:57:42
Will end in 25 skills, full time green jots will be lost due to the elimination of fiscal year 25 funding.
7:57:48
While I celebrate the great achievement of all the New York City schools now having curbside composting service.
7:57:53
I am highly concerned that the loss of dedicated educational support provided by growing my C Zero Waste Schools will jeopardize the full implementation of school curbside composting.
7:58:01
Let's be honest.
7:58:03
Schools now all have the service, but they are not, by any means, all participating fully.
7:58:07
The largest school system in the country with the largest like compost program is celebrating the rollout to old schools by cutting the support that has been shown to improve participation and diversion rates.
7:58:17
I just don't get it.
7:58:18
Now it's not the time, now that services university available, ensuring that full schools fully integrate ways sorting into their daily habits, as well as continue to educate students and adults who can influence behaviors home should be a priority.
7:58:31
A recent note from a teacher underscores how Roan YC helps to build the capacity of the people who are ultimately responsible for the daily success of school curbside composting.
7:58:39
The administrators custodial staff and sustainability coordinators Our team first worked with William Shell at Brooklyn Tech and recently at his new school, IS 318 in Brooklyn.
7:58:49
William had this to say when he learned that the loss of our funding.
7:58:52
Without specialized educators from outside organizations like Roan YC helping educators on the inside, New York City teachers will continue to lack importance as support pieces necessary for us to coordinate school based sustainability efforts and reinforce city policy.
7:59:06
Or more simply, we will lack a motivation a factor for us teachers who need to be reenergized when we see that trying to do something good for the whole of our school or city doesn't matter to some of the stakeholders who should care the most.
7:59:17
Grown Y C Zero Way Schools, urges mayor Adams, and city council to care the most by funding the items
Christopher Marte
7:59:24
Times expired.
7:59:25
Thank you.
Kate Wimsatt
7:59:25
That supports school personnel to effectively participate in greenhouse gas reducing behaviors.
7:59:30
Please re or 2.5 per growing YC0 or ways schools.
7:59:34
And 7,000,000 for the community composting, including grown white seeds foods, grab drop off sites.
7:59:39
Thank you.
Justin L. Brannan
7:59:40
Thank you, Kate.
7:59:41
Now we have Eurike, Nishan,
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Tami Lin-Moges, Interim Director of the Nature Conservancy's New York City Program, on Increasing Funding for NYC Parks and the Urban Forest Plan
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Ulrike Nischan, Representative of the Solid Waste Advisory Board, on Restoring Funding for New York City's Community Composting Programs
