Q&A
Potential inclusion of commercial waste in NYC waste characterization studies
1:24:05
·
115 sec
Council Member Abreu, on behalf of Councilwoman Nurse, inquires about the possibility of including commercial waste in waste characterization studies. DSNY officials explain the current situation and future possibilities.
- The upcoming commercial waste zone program will provide significantly more data on commercial waste than ever before
- This new data will include tonnage per stream and allow for calculation of commercial diversion rates
- DSNY suggests waiting for full city-wide rollout of the commercial waste zone program before deciding on inclusion in waste characterization studies
- New contracts require vendors to provide waste audits to their customers, offering detailed information about commercial waste composition
Shaun Abreu
1:24:05
Alright.
1:24:05
My last question is a question from councilwoman nurse.
1:24:08
She would like to know if if the administration is, you know, would be supportive or is open to including commercial waste as part of the waste containerization study.
Joshua Goodman
1:24:18
As as part of the waste characterization study sorry.
1:24:20
Characterization we are the first thing I'll say about that is that we are going to be getting so much more data than we ever have before about commercial waste through the commercial waste zone program.
1:24:32
For example, I'll tell you, like, we've never actually had a way to calculate a commercial diversion rate.
1:24:37
There's estimates that come out of the commercial transfer stations, but under the commercial waste zone program, we get so much data as that program comes online by zone.
1:24:48
About tonnage per stream and all it it's gonna be great to have that material.
1:24:52
So I think that after we look at full city wide rollout of that program, which, of course, does not have a specific timeline at this point, we're just doing the 1st zone now.
1:25:00
And we see what sort of data we're already getting, then it would be appropriate to discuss whether that's a separate report, whether that comes into the waste characterization study, what what it might look like.
1:25:11
And let me just Let me just turn it over to assistant commissioner McDonough at one point.
Jennifer McDonnell
1:25:20
There is a requirement for the vendors to provide waste audits to all of their customers in the new contracts that although not on a global level can provide very detailed information about the waste at each you know, commercial entity and what's in it.
1:25:34
So that is a new provision that's included in these contracts that I agree with deputy commission agreement will provide really excellent data about the commercial waste stream in New York City.
Shaun Abreu
1:25:44
So if if commercial waste was added as part of characterization study, would that possibly in violation of contract?
Jennifer McDonnell
1:25:53
I don't know if that's the case.
1:25:54
I just think that we already have a a mechanism to get that information through the commercial waste zone contracts.
