Q&A
Concerns raised about tenant reporting and data on non-compliance warnings
1:43:59
·
143 sec
Council Member Abreu expresses concerns about putting the responsibility on tenants to report lack of brown bins, and inquires about data on warnings issued by DSNY.
- DSNY clarifies that reports can be made anonymously through 311
- The department doesn't have immediate data on warnings issued
- Abreu emphasizes the importance of having this information and enforcing compliance
- DSNY explains that the enforcement process is similar to that for other recyclable materials
Shaun Abreu
1:43:59
So there's there's a there's ample opportunity here.
1:44:01
Right?
1:44:02
Yes.
1:44:02
Absolutely, there is.
1:44:03
To be partnering with, you know, those community composting groups.
1:44:05
They we secured $6,600,000 in fund in this past year budget for them.
1:44:11
You know, they're in a tremendous resource for raising awareness, getting people excited about this.
1:44:16
As, you know, I've indicated in in past hearings and throughout the budget fight, I think now now is the time.
1:44:23
Let's let's come up with a plan, and I wanna I would love to see more collaboration between DSNY and community composting groups.
1:44:30
Previously, DSNY told us that tenants and building residents would be responsible for reporting lack of brown bins in their buildings.
1:44:38
I want to state again that I'm very concerned with putting the onus on tenants, especially considering how unresponsive management can be and many tenants, quite frankly, feeling afraid to speak up about some of these issues.
1:44:51
What is the current data on warnings that DSNY has given buildings so far?
Joshua Goodman
1:44:56
Yeah.
1:44:56
I I will just say on your concern about, whether it's something that tenants would be comfortable doing, it can be done anonymously through 3 one one, for what that's worth.
1:45:06
There is a 3 one one to report building, not composting.
1:45:10
And as with any 3 one one SR, you don't have to give your name.
1:45:13
I don't have a number on the warnings.
1:45:15
We can look into it.
1:45:16
But, you know, I just the other thing to keep in mind around this, I know it's a new program, we have about 20 years of enforcement practice around failure to separate MGP paper.
1:45:28
Right?
1:45:28
And the process is basically the same.
1:45:30
If you lived in a building that wasn't recycling, you would either report it through 311 or you would talk to your building management.
1:45:37
You know, and our enforcement is the same.
1:45:38
We go and check out what's left out of the curb.
1:45:40
And that's what we intend to continue to do, is to treat it just the same as other forms of recyclable material.
Shaun Abreu
1:45:45
I'm curious to know why the department doesn't have a number of warnings so far since it's been implemented now for for weeks.
Joshua Goodman
1:45:53
Sure.
1:45:53
I just don't have it in front of me.
1:45:55
I mean, I know that the topic of this hearing was containerization.
1:45:58
So, failure to source separate is something that we can pull for you.
Shaun Abreu
1:46:06
Yeah.
1:46:06
My, I'm pretty sure there was notice given that this hearing would also cover organics.
Joshua Goodman
1:46:10
If I missed it, I oh, yes.
1:46:11
Yeah.
1:46:11
I thought it was containerization of organics, but I apologize that we don't have it in front of us.
1:46:15
No.
1:46:15
No.
Shaun Abreu
1:46:16
Just making sure we didn't we don't like to blindside anyway.
Joshua Goodman
1:46:18
No.
1:46:19
We thought we thought we read it as containerization of trash and organics, like containerization.
