Q&A
Clarification on the availability and distribution of free brown bins
1:48:49
·
177 sec
Council Member Abreu seeks clarification on reports that DSNY has run out of free brown bins and discusses the current distribution policy.
- DSNY explains that free bin distribution had a set time period in each borough
- The free distribution window closed on October 28th
- A small number of bins are still available for schools or council member giveaway events
- Bins are now available for purchase, with DSNY emphasizing that everyone had a chance to get a free one
- Abreu expresses concern about the arbitrary deadline and suggests continuing free distribution
Shaun Abreu
1:48:49
I think this is a huge missed opportunity on city I mean, that was, I guess, news to me, but, it's a huge missed opportunity, I believe.
1:48:59
I think that explains why a lot of buildings are not complying.
1:49:02
So alright.
1:49:03
We'll we'll we'll get back to that.
1:49:07
My last question.
1:49:09
Well, actually, the 2 last questions, and I and I believe that you will confirm this.
1:49:13
We've heard reports that DSNY has run out of free brown bins and that folks, ineffective borrowers, are being told to purchase their own bin and put a DSNY sticker on it.
1:49:23
Can you confirm if this is true?
Joshua Goodman
1:49:25
No.
1:49:25
It's not an issue of having run out.
1:49:27
It's that every borough, when service came on, had a set period of time where you could get a free bin.
1:49:32
That period is now passed.
1:49:33
Right?
1:49:34
So in Brooklyn, it was 3 months.
1:49:36
In Queens, it was 3 months.
1:49:38
For the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, it was 3 months.
1:49:40
They were different as the tranches came on, but it was always a 3 month period.
1:49:44
And that window had closed October 28th.
1:49:47
And now if you need a new one, you didn't get one in time, you just need an additional one, maybe you want a second one, which is great.
1:49:54
You can go and purchase 1 at bins.nyc or use your own bin at 55.6.
Shaun Abreu
1:49:58
So what is the city doing with its current brown bin
Joshua Goodman
1:50:01
We have a we we tried to be judicious with our budgeting and not over purchase a tremendous amount.
1:50:06
We have a small number left, which would be used for maybe schools or for, giveaway events with council members, but the order window was a set period of time.
1:50:15
It was always announced to be a set period of time, from when it went open, in the 3 boroughs that just came online at the end of July.
1:50:23
It was said it'll be till the end of October.
1:50:25
And by the way, for what it's worth, I mean, as the commissioner mentioned in her testimony, the Staten Island number, which was the most recent tranche, was like double what we had had in Brooklyn and Queens.
1:50:36
So the demand for this program is clearly there, and it's very gratifying to see.
1:50:40
And if council members are interested in distributing free bins, it's something we always want to work on.
Shaun Abreu
1:50:45
I mean, I I want constituents to be able to still order them and get them free from the department, before we you even gave them to council members.
1:50:53
This seems a little arbitrary for there have been a set deadline, and you still have more.
1:50:58
And why can't you just
Joshua Goodman
1:50:58
do another free giveaway?
1:51:00
There's a small number available.
1:51:02
It would not I mean, we could do a, you know, a couple 100 or a couple 1000 as a first come, first serve.
1:51:06
But considering that Staten Islanders alone requested 60,000 and received them, I don't think that would be a meaningful program.
1:51:13
So how small
Shaun Abreu
1:51:14
are we talking?
David Goldberg
1:51:15
Oh, do you know how many we have left?
Joshua Goodman
1:51:18
Yeah.
1:51:18
It's it's a few thousand and and there we would use them institutionally.
1:51:22
Like, we need some.
1:51:23
Right?
1:51:23
So we'd use them institutionally.
1:51:23
You know, if you wanna work out something to do limited giveaway events, and if you wanna opportunities to open that again in the future, certainly The mayor should pay for your bins.
1:51:28
These bins
Shaun Abreu
1:51:28
are available for a very
Joshua Goodman
1:51:28
reasonable price if someone everybody had the chance to get a free one.
1:51:30
Everybody chance to get a free one.
1:51:39
Everybody in the entire city who requested a free one did receive 1.
1:51:44
And, if you need another one, they're available for purchase.
