PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Mary Arnold, Representative of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Bronx Solid Waste Advisory Boards (SWABs) on Organic Waste Collection and Processing
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128 sec
Mary Arnold, representing multiple Solid Waste Advisory Boards, testified on Intro 498 regarding collecting organics from community gardens and Intro 698 clarifying the definition of organic waste drop-off sites. She emphasized the need for local compost processing and infrastructure expansion.
- Advocated for prioritizing local compost processing sites over DSNY collection from community gardens
- Suggested modifications to expand funding for local composting infrastructure in all 5 boroughs
- Proposed allowing standalone receptacles managed by community or nonprofits to count as organic waste drop-off sites
Mary Arnold
2:48:29
Okay.
2:48:30
Apologize.
2:48:31
It's not doing my video.
2:48:34
I'm testifying on behalf of the Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and, Bronx Swabs.
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This is firstly testimony on intro 498, collecting organics from community gardens.
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DSNY should not be in competition for organics with local compost processing sites such as botanical gardens.
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Instead, a system should be created to prioritize local compost processing and to recognize and rebalance excess compostables and send them to community compost processing sites.
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Those that have been funded and those that are being established or expanded that have excess capacity.
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For example, Queen's Botanical Garden has a capacity to process an additional ton of organics per week.
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It should be further modified to expand the funding for local composting infrastructure throughout all 5 boroughs, working toward the ultimate goal of achieving 100% composting of food scraps throughout New York City.
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Currently, diversion rates for organics, source separation from other municipal solid waste is hovering around 4%.
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There is time for infrastructure to be built out as participation increases through a program of focused education paired with enforcement that is targeted to increase participation.
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Testimony on intro 698, clarifying the definition of the organic waste drop off-site.
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We generally support this.
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However, we would like to see, stand alone receptacles that are used for food scrap drop off, sites, whether staffed or unstaffed, be allowed when they are managed by community or nonprofit to count toward the minimum number of drop off sites.
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We recognize that staff drop off sites provide educational opportunities.
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However, they can be costly.
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Community or nonprofit managed sites should be permitted to establish job application
