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Q&A
Discussion on reinstating the curbside e-waste program in Staten Island
1:31:44
ยท
123 sec
Council Member David M. Carr discusses the need to reinstate the curbside e-waste program in Staten Island with DSNY officials. He highlights the increase in illegal dumping of electronic waste and argues for the program's return.
- DSNY mentions increased hours at special waste sites and retailer take-back programs as alternatives
- Carr emphasizes the convenience and effectiveness of the curbside model
- The discussion touches on the state mandate to end e-waste landfilling and its current ineffectiveness
David M. Carr
1:31:44
I want to begin by talking about the curbside e waste program that used to exist in Staten Island.
1:31:50
It did not make it into this current year's budget.
1:31:53
And I've noticed over the last few months a significant uptick in illegal dumping generally, and that we see a lot of electronic waste in increasing amounts in these dumped areas.
1:32:04
So I was wondering if we could get support for this to be returned for this year's budget because, as you know, in the prior administration, it wasn't supposed to be a Staten Island only program, It was meant to be rolled out to the other boroughs as well.
1:32:16
Can you comment on that?
Joshua Goodman
1:32:27
Councilmember, thank you for raising this program.
1:32:29
Obviously, it's something that the stops and starts are never productive.
1:32:34
One thing that we can share, I think you know, is that last year we, or this most recent fiscal year, we almost tripled the number of hours that the special waste sites where you can bring these types of material are open.
1:32:50
There's also state legislation that requires take backs at a wide variety of retailers.
1:32:55
We'd be happy to work with you on making sure that people who may think illegal dumping is their only option understand that there's actually more places than ever that they can bring e waste.
David M. Carr
1:33:04
I appreciate that, but they're not always convenient, right, and they're not always as well known as we'd like them to be.
1:33:09
And frankly, not all the retailers do so on a consistent basis despite the state mandates.
1:33:14
And so I think we really need to return to the curbside model.
1:33:17
That's the most effective way to make sure that these items are retrieved legally and don't end up on the sides of our streets.
1:33:25
Right?
1:33:25
The whole point of the state ending of landfilling of e waste was to protect their natural areas.
1:33:29
We're not protecting them.
1:33:30
And we've had a great partnership over the years between our office and your agency and the DA's office combating illegal dumping, and it's just getting worse.
1:33:38
So I think we really need to return this program to where it is and then return hopefully to the rollout to the rest of the city.
1:33:44
But I want to move on to organics collection.
1:33:47
It's been alluded to that next week is the beginning of the enforcement period.