AGENCY TESTIMONY
Commercial waste zone program and organic waste separation
0:12:20
·
45 sec
DSNY is implementing a commercial waste zone program that provides financial incentives for businesses to divert recyclable and compostable waste. The department is also advocating for updates to commercial organic separation laws.
- The program is being implemented in 20 zones, starting with the first one
- Current laws (Local Law 146 of 2013) are outdated and have many exemptions
- DSNY urges the council to consider requiring source separation at all commercial establishments
Joshua Goodman
0:12:20
The commercial waste zone program, now being implemented in the first of the 20 zones, provides the first meaningful financial incentive for commercial diversion with collection of recyclable and compostable material, both costing businesses less money than the collection of trash.
0:12:34
I would like to take this opportunity as DSNY has done at 3 previous hearings to again raise the issue of commercial organic separation.
0:12:42
Local law 146 of 2013 requires certain commercial establishments to separate their compostable material, but this law is now substantially out of step with the city's commitment to the diversion of compostable waste.
0:12:52
While the commercial waste on system will improve commercial diversion, We also urge the council to consider an update that would allow DSNY to require source separation at all commercial establishments, in line with the progress made in residential diversion.
