AGENCY TESTIMONY
Success and expansion of NYC's residential composting program
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New York City's residential composting program has seen significant success, with increasing diversion rates for three consecutive years. The program is set to expand citywide, making it the largest and most user-friendly curbside composting program ever implemented.
- The diversion rate has increased every year under the current administration
- Compostable materials saved from landfills have increased by 65% over the last two years, reaching 260 million pounds
- The program emphasizes simplicity and ease of use to encourage participation
Joshua Goodman
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On the residential side, the FY 2024 Merus Management report reported the 3rd straight year in which the diversion rate increased.
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That means that the total share of waste kept out of landfills and waste to energy facilities is up every year thus far under this administration.
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Again, every year under this administration, the diversion rate for waste has increased.
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The MMR also showed an incredible data point with the overall diversion.
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The amount of compostable materials saved from landfill has increased 65% over the last 2 years to an astounding £260,000,000.
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This is because New York City is now home to the largest, easiest to use curbside composting program ever, a program that goes citywide in less than 2 weeks.
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The culmination of more than a decade of advocacy and policy development, including by many people in the room today.
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This is a vindication of simple, customer forward programs for waste diversion.
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It is all too easy for those of us who care deeply about waste diversion and environmental justice to forget that whether right or wrong, it is not always a top of mind for busy, hardworking New Yorkers.
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Everyone wants to do the right thing, but it has to be easy.
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And we've taken steps through policy design and through the use of new technologies to make it easy.
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So please, recycle or compost your pizza box.
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Don't worry that it has a little grease on it.
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We will take care of it.
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Recycle the peanut butter jar.
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Don't worry that there's still some peanut butter residue left inside.
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We will take care of it.
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Recycle that plastic container regardless of what number is on the bottom.
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We will take care of it on our end.
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When you put your compost bin out on your recycling day, Feel free to line it with a clear plastic bag if you want to.
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We will take care of that too.
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Complicated rules, sign up requirements, restrictions, exceptions.
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All of that makes it more likely that reusable or recyclable material just goes in the trash.
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And wouldn't that be a shame.
