PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Laura Rothrock, Co-chair of Sanitation Working Group at NYC BID Association, on Waste Containerization
1:56:59
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131 sec
Laura Rothrock, representing the NYC BID Association, testified about concerns regarding waste containerization requirements for Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). She highlighted the operational challenges and cost burdens that BIDs face in complying with new containerization rules proposed by the Department of Sanitation (DSNY).
- BIDs currently collect or replace 10,000 trash bags daily, which cannot all fit in wheelie bins
- Many BIDs have limited budgets, making it difficult to afford expensive containerization solutions
- The Clean Curbs program has been challenging to implement due to DOT rejections of proposed container locations
- BIDs are seeking clarity, flexibility, and support from DSNY to make containerization mandates feasible for all BIDs
Laura Rothrock
1:56:59
Thank you.
1:57:00
Good afternoon, chairs Abreu, Juan, and members of the committee on sanitation and contracts.
1:57:05
My name is Laura Rothrock, and I'm here today on behalf of the NYC C.
1:57:08
BID Association where I'm cochair of the Sanitation Working Group.
1:57:12
I also serve as the executive director of the Long Island City Partnership.
1:57:16
The bid association represents 76 bids citywide, many of whom are here to testify.
1:57:22
We appreciate you holding this hearing on waste containerization, which is a key issue to our operations.
1:57:27
I'm gonna go a little bit off script based on some of the testimony from the Department of Sanitation.
1:57:32
I have been a civic leader working on this issue for the past year, and any misunderstanding is the result of DSNY not giving us clarification on some of these rules.
1:57:42
So I appreciate, council member Juan and council member Abreu for bringing this to a public forum today where we can finally get some answers.
1:57:51
Bids have helped fill sanitation gaps in underserved areas, including bagging and relining overflow or overflowing corner baskets that d s n DSNY couldn't empty fast enough.
1:58:03
Bids collect or replace 10,000 trash bags daily, and those don't all fit in a wheelie bin.
1:58:11
So while some larger bids can haul them to sanitation warehouses, like the commissioner Times Square Alliance and Downtown Alliance that have budgets of $20,000,000 annually.
1:58:21
Some bids have under $100,000 annually in their budgets.
1:58:25
And so most most bids leave bags on the sidewalk for DSNY for pickup.
1:58:31
Some bids have joined the Clean Curbs program, but expanding containerization for all public trash would be prohibitively expensive.
1:58:39
And it's not just about the cost, it also is about DOT and siting these in the curb.
1:58:44
Many bids have applied for the Clean Curbs program to buy these containers, and DOT has rejected all of the locations that bids have applied for.
1:58:52
So we simply can't comply with this without partnership from DSNY, And we have continually tried to meet with them, and they have committed to meeting with us, but we have yet to have any of those meetings.
1:59:02
So we remain committed in partnering with DSNY, but we urge clarity, flexibility, and support to make this mandate feasible for all bids.
1:59:10
Thank you.
