Q&A
Deployment and usage of smart bins for organic waste collection
0:37:47
·
146 sec
Council Member Abreu inquires about the deployment and usage of smart bins for organic waste collection. DSNY officials provide details on the program's success and placement strategies.
- Over 400 smart bins were deployed in fiscal year 2024
- Smart bins were opened 1.2 million times in FY 24, up from 300,000 in FY 23
- Placement strategies include clustering in neighborhoods and along commercial corridors
- The bins are designed for household use, with measures to prevent misuse by businesses
- There is currently no funding for additional smart bins
Shaun Abreu
0:37:47
necessary.
0:37:49
According to the latest MMR, Mayor's Management Report, over 400 smart bins were deployed in fiscal year 2024.
0:37:58
How did the nationwide decide which prioritize the sightings of these smart bins and how will the nationwide ensure that businesses which are required to sort the organic ways do not misuse the smart bins?
Joshua Goodman
0:38:08
So So I'll take the 2 questions separately.
0:38:12
The smart bins have been an incredibly successful program.
0:38:15
In FY 23, they were opened 300,000 times.
0:38:18
In FY 24, they were opened more than 1,200,000 times, which isn't amazing.
0:38:22
I mean, it's just so gratifying to see this program used so widely.
0:38:27
The placement follows a couple of different models because this rolled out in phases and because we're basically, you know, examining best practices.
0:38:36
In certain parts of the city, they are clustered Okay?
0:38:40
There's several in the neighborhood.
0:38:41
The idea was to see, is it effective to use it as sort of a part of a neighborhood service?
0:38:48
And in other areas, they are placed along commercial corridors.
0:38:52
The idea was, you know, where people are commuting on foot.
0:38:56
We've actually seen success with both of these models.
0:38:59
You know, the bins in on the west side of Manhattan and on the upper east side following sort of the commercial car corridor model.
0:39:07
And are widely used.
0:39:09
The bins in prospect heights and Astoria follow the cluster model, and they are also very widely used.
0:39:14
So happy to see this is a program that people really enjoy using and also one thing that I don't wanna speak for the department.
0:39:21
I'll say that on this, I'll say that I was personally surprised that the tonnage didn't really go down after curbside service became available.
0:39:27
People were still using the bins quite widely, or I shouldn't say tonnage because we can't measure the separate tonnage from the swipe bins, but the usage, the the unlocks.
0:39:36
Did not substantially change.
0:39:38
To your question about business waste, the opening is sized for household individual use.
0:39:47
A business that produces sort of this much compostable material per day.
0:39:53
It would be illegal for them to use them.
0:39:55
And if we caught them, we would find them for it.
0:39:58
But it's a it's a small amount that they can put in at one time, and so it's not a phenomenon I'm familiar with of a business trying to use one.
Shaun Abreu
0:40:06
Is there a plan to order more smart bins?
Joshua Goodman
0:40:09
There is no funding for additional smart bins at this time.
