AGENCY TESTIMONY
DSNY's stance on Intro 351 for rechargeable battery disposal
0:16:13
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100 sec
DSNY acknowledges the problem of rechargeable batteries causing fires in trucks and facilities. While the department already complies with some portions of the proposed law, full compliance would be costly and impractical.
- DSNY currently operates one special waste drop-off site per borough, open one day per week
- Expanding to two sites per borough open 7 days a week would cost an estimated $7,721,000 per year
- DSNY recommends closing the state loophole to add e-mobility batteries to the existing state takeback law
Joshua Goodman
0:16:13
Intro351 sponsored by council member nurse would require DSNY to develop a plan for ensuring proper disposal of rechargeable batteries used for power mobility devices.
0:16:22
These batteries present a major problem for DSNY, causing fires in our trucks and facilities when they are improperly disposed of.
0:16:29
DSNY already complies with certain portions of this law.
0:16:32
We have one special waste drop off site that accepts these items in each borough, open one day per week, whereas the law calls for two sites per bureau open 7 days per week.
0:16:41
Adding a second site per bureau and making both sites operational every day would cost an estimated $7,721,000 per year.
0:16:49
The law also calls for DSNY to accept these items at any disposal or collection event organized by the department.
0:16:55
While we do accept them at our safe events, currently funded at 1 per bureau per year, it would be unsafe and impractical to collect them at all department sponsored events, which is what the law requires is written.
0:17:05
For example, accepting the PMI and batteries at a compost giveback event would not be feasible.
0:17:10
For the 3rd and 4th requirements of the bill, as it's currently written, the mandating coordination with businesses and outreach with the public, We would point out that many rechargeable batteries are already covered by a New York state mandated drop off program where all stores that sell rechargeable batteries or items that include them must accept them for a spike recycling, but that as the council member pointed out, the current law exempts e mobility batteries.
0:17:30
Given the cost of establishing new sites, expanding the hours of current sites, and adding hazardous waste material recovery to unrelated events, as well as the existing state infrastructure around work with businesses in the public for other battery types, We believe that the best plan for getting this hazardous item out of the waste stream is to close that state loophole and add e mobility batteries to the existing state takeback law, which is funded by battery manufacturers.
