REMARKS
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams introduces legislation for waste containerization in large buildings
0:22:42
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3 min
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams introduces Intro 0949 of 2024, which requires buildings with 100 or more units to provide containers for refuse. He discusses the benefits of this legislation in terms of rat mitigation, sustainability, and cleaner streets.
- Williams praises the Department of Sanitation's efforts to address trash and rat issues in the city
- He explains how the bill fits into existing waste management strategies and supports the city's sustainability goals
- The Public Advocate addresses potential concerns about costs and emphasizes the importance of smooth implementation
Jumaane Williams
0:22:42
Thank you, mister chair.
0:22:43
I really appreciate it.
0:22:44
First, I just wanna say, commissioner, just congratulations on on some of the issues you've been working on, particularly getting trash out of our streets and into something and dealing with the rats.
0:22:54
And that's you know, even if there's not a full agreement on all the legislation, I just wanna make sure.
0:22:58
I said that, as you said before, is it wasn't rocket science.
0:23:01
I'm not sure why folks haven't did it, but, sometimes you just need the right person in the right position.
0:23:06
So thank you so much for that.
0:23:08
As was mentioned, my name is Jumaane d Williams, the public advocate of the city of New York.
0:23:11
Thank you, chairs of Breo and Juan, and committee members for holding this hearing.
0:23:15
Today, I'm introducing intro 0949 of 2024, which requires that someone who manages or controls a building with a 100 units or more provide a container for refuse.
0:23:24
As of last week, properties with 1 to 9 residential units must use a secure bin with a lid for trash, recycling, or compost.
0:23:30
However, we know that 90 New York City consists of different sized housing buildings, and we continue to seek to curtail trash around the city as a whole.
0:23:38
Any building, commercial or residential, with a 100 units or more should have its large or ample sized container for building residents to use.
0:23:45
This will assist with rat mitigation and better the visual blight the city has endured that was exacerbated during the pandemic because everyone was working from home during the shutdown and generated more trash.
0:23:55
Also, since the shutdown, many New Yorkers started working hybrid models generating more trash from home as compared to when everyone worked in the 5 the office 5 days a week.
0:24:03
Keeping the streets cleaner supports the city's sustainability goals to reduce gas emissions by 2050, allowing residents to have more access to space like sidewalks and bike lanes that will no longer have to face clutter from trash bags.
0:24:15
Cleaner streets also assist with our carbon neutrality goals by encouraging New Yorkers to convert to containerization and explore pedestrian plazas and other open spaces that would otherwise be blocked by trash building.
0:24:27
Less trash on the streets creates more sustainable transportation options and biking and other public transit while helping residents transition away from emitting emitting gas.
0:24:36
A 2019 report from the mayor's office of Climate and Environmental Justice, a little a livable climate, shared that over 1 third of New York City's residential waste came from landfill landfilling organic waste, which resulted in the release of methane, a greenhouse gas that warms the climate.
0:24:52
The city has since begun to implement waste management strategies to men by mandating separate colored bins, containers with wheels to help separate waste, compost, which lowers methane, carbon, carbon, and other garbage.
0:25:03
In addition, the city slowly rolled out the implementation of violations to allow New York as a period of adjustment.
0:25:09
New York City mandating an adjacent street to house a container for any building with a 100 units or more is an ecological step for a city that is combating a rat epidemic.
0:25:18
And larger owners will be placed on seeking private partners in the field of sanitation and waste management, or looking to partner with the city to design and market products that are reusable or recyclable.
0:25:27
Purchasing trash bins or receptacles should not be seen as an additional cost to New Yorkers as they will help mitigate an unforeseen cost to sidewalks and properties, as well as prevent citizens from being consistently fined by the Department of Sanitation.
0:25:41
As containerization begins to take effect, we have a responsibility to ensure that this program runs smoothly for sanitation workers, residents, and those visiting our city.
0:25:48
And mandating receptacles to the city's largest buildings, we can start work to establish a system that addresses containerization for buildings less than a 100 units that can work for everyone without sacrificing our goal for greener and more sustainable future.
0:26:01
As the commissioner mentioned, our office has been speaking, and we look forward to trying to figure out how our bill can more align with the work that's already being done.
0:26:07
Thank you.
