PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Niki Cross, Staff Attorney in the Environmental Justice Program at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI)
2:39:48
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136 sec
Niki Cross, representing NYLPI, testified in support of legislation aimed at reducing waste and improving organic waste management in New York City. They emphasized the importance of aggressive steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect public health, and create green jobs.
- Strongly supported Intro 284 and Intro 781 for managing organic waste in city agencies and universities
- Endorsed Intro 498 to enable organic material recycling at community gardens
- Highlighted the need for robust organic waste recycling and food donation programs in the commercial sector
- Mentioned the 5th anniversary of the commercial waste zones law as a significant opportunity for waste reduction and environmental justice
Niki Cross
2:39:48
Good afternoon.
2:39:49
My name is Nicky Cross, and I'm a staff attorney in NILPI's New York Lawyers for the Public Interest Environmental Justice Program.
2:39:57
Thank you to the committee for the opportunity to testify and for continuing to advance programs and legislation that will help New Yorkers reduce the millions of tons of waste we unnecessarily dispose in landfills and incinerators each year.
2:40:13
It's more critical than ever that municipal and state government, take aggressive steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect public health and environmental justice communities, protect worker and public safety, and create good local green jobs in composting, reuse, and recycling.
2:40:32
We strongly support intro 0, 284 and intro 781, which together would ensure that all city agencies, CUNY facilities, and SUNY facilities manage organic waste as a recyclable material.
2:40:48
This is critical to reduce the large amounts of waste generated and disposed by public agencies and universities, and to ensure that millions of New Yorkers who work and interact with these agencies can abide by a single simple set of recycling rules at work and at school.
2:41:05
We similarly support intro 498, which would enable more New Yorkers to recycle organic material at community gardens.
2:41:14
In parallel with these public sector programs, it is urgent that we implement and enforce robust organic waste recycling, and food donation programs, and rules across our huge commercial sector, so that New Yorkers can be assured that this material is being donated or composted wherever they work, eat, shop, or recreate.
2:41:35
Today is the 5th anniversary of the signing of the landmark commercial waste zones law, which remains our best opportunity to simultaneously reduce disposed commercial waste, eliminate millions of unnecessary truck miles, improve worker safety, and reduce pollution in environmental justice communities overburdened by private transfer stations and truck yards.
2:42:00
Thank you.
2:42:03
Appreciate your time.
