PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Anna Sacks, Representative of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx Solid Waste Advisory Boards (SWABs)
2:58:00
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127 sec
Anna Sacks, representing the Solid Waste Advisory Boards of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, testified on various waste management issues and proposed legislation. She expressed opposition to Intro 57 and Intro 949, while supporting the intent of Resolution 284 with modifications.
- Opposed Intro 57, arguing for DSNY to focus enforcement on substantive issues rather than aesthetics
- Supported the intent of Resolution 284 for organic collection in SUNY and CUNY systems, but recommended excluding incineration as a disposal method
- Strongly discouraged Intro 949, stating that dumpsters would not serve the city's waste diversion goals
Anna Sacks
2:58:00
Hi.
2:58:01
The Solid Waste Advisory Boards of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx oppose intro 57, which would allow the Department of Sanitation to issue fines up to $3,500 to large buildings that failed to store waste in a, quote, satisfactory manner or place their waste on the sidewalk before the designated set out time.
2:58:16
We believe that DSNY has limited amount of enforcement capital before New Yorkers become fed up.
2:58:22
We would like DSNY to use this enforcement enforcement capital, issues of substance rather than aesthetics.
2:58:27
DSNY should reserve hefty fines for buildings that illegally dispose of hazardous waste and and electronics rather than buildings that put out waste at 7 PM instead of 8 PM.
2:58:37
Further, we would like to see d s n y and New Yorkers take separating out organics and recyclable seriously, which will help move our city's diversion rate from 19% to its potential 75% based on the last waste characterization study.
2:58:51
We strongly believe the DSNY should reserve its binding power for efforts that help divert waste from landfills and incinerators.
2:58:58
We strongly support the intent of resolution 284 to establish organic selection and composting programs at institutions that are part of the State University of New York System and the City University of New York System.
2:59:08
However, we do not endorse the resolution as introduced and we do not endorse senate bill 5713 because it includes sending organics to, quote, waste to energy aka incineration facilities.
2:59:20
The city council resolution should include a strong recommendation that the senate bill be modified to exclude sending organics to waste to energy and instead prioritize composting.
2:59:30
The Solar Waste Advisory Board strongly discourage the enactment of Intrue 949, which would require managers of buildings with a 100 or more units to provide a dumpster for refuse.
2:59:39
The proliferation of dumpsters across the city does not serve the city's diversion and source separation goals and said we need to decrease the building's solid waste and increase the source separation of organic through recyclables.
2:59:49
To improve source separation we need b s and I to conduct to sustain public education and to maintain enforcement of a building separation of recyclables and organic materials.
2:59:59
We do not need large containers to to collect more of a building solid waste.
3:00:03
It is not a good use for scarce public space, and the dumpsters would be be perpetual visual blight.
