AGENCY TESTIMONY
Commercial Waste Zone system implementation and enforcement
0:13:31
·
113 sec
Commissioner Tisch provides an update on the implementation of the Commercial Waste Zone system in NYC, highlighting its progress and enforcement efforts.
- Announces that full implementation of the first zone, Queen Central, is about a month away
- Describes the system as ending the 'wild west' of commercial carting
- Reports on enforcement actions, including 114 summonses issued to commercial carters for various violations
- Mentions the formation of a commercial waste zone safety task force and ongoing outreach to businesses
- Addresses industry consolidation and reaffirms commitment to maintaining competition with 3 carters per zone and a 15-zone limit per carter
Jessica Tisch
0:13:31
And speaking of the commercial waste zone system, one of the other substantial overhauls of waste operations in New York City, we are now only just over a month away from full implementation of the first zone, Queen Central.
0:13:44
This initiative will end what was functionally a wild west of commercial carding after Brooklyn borough president Antonio Reynoso and others worked for years to develop a thoughtful system for calling in the cavalry, DSNY.
0:13:57
When the first zone is fully implemented right after the New Year, DSNY will gain significant new enforcement capabilities, but we are not waiting to make it clear that things have changed.
0:14:06
DSNY enforcement personnel have issued a 114 summonses to commercial carters in Queen Central since the enforcement period began for everything from safety violations to offenses against basic cleanliness.
0:14:20
This enforcement works.
0:14:21
We are seeing drastic increases in compliance even before full d s and y authority takes effect.
0:14:28
We have convened the commercial waste zone safety task force, overseeing trainings, and engage in substantial and ongoing outreach to businesses.
0:14:36
As predicted, when local law 199 of 2019 went into effect, the commercial waste zone program is leading to some industry consolidation.
0:14:43
We remain steadfast in our commitment that there must be 3 carters per zone and that no carter may have more than 15 zones, including via subsidiaries, in order to maintain necessary market competition and keep prices down.
0:14:57
In the case of current consolidation already underway that may necessitate a new award, we plan to use the existing RFP documents given their recency and continued relevance.
0:15:10
In the future, as time goes on, that may change and new bids may be necessary.
0:15:15
We continue to rely on the partnership of this council to make these long overdue changes a reality.
0:15:21
With that in mind, I will now turn to the bills on today's agenda.
