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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Clare Miflin, Representative of Center for Zero Waste Design on Containerization and Community Composting
2:58:02
ยท
133 sec
Clare Miflin from the Center for Zero Waste Design testifies on issues with the current containerization plans and the importance of community composting. She expresses support for containerization but criticizes the current approach, highlighting concerns about its impact on zero waste goals, labor, and public space.
- Miflin argues that the focus on trash-only containers may reduce diversion rates and suggests piloting multiple options before citywide implementation.
- She raises concerns about the practicality of Empire Bins for larger buildings and suggests alternatives that take up less curbside space.
- Miflin thanks the City Council for supporting community composting and suggests tying it to stormwater management goals to improve soil health citywide.
Clare Miflin
2:58:02
Thank you.
2:58:02
I'm Claire Meflin from the Center for Zero Waste Design.
2:58:05
I'm gonna talk first about containerization, which I fully support, but I just think the way it's moving forward is very problematic, and it needs to be slowed down and something's reconsidered.
2:58:16
It's bad for zero waste goals.
2:58:18
Why require just containers for trash, even though it's food waste that brings rats?
2:58:24
Why invest in trash only infrastructure which will reduce the already low diversion rate?
2:58:30
We know this from older buildings that just have a trash chute on every floor and recycling and food scraps in the basement.
2:58:36
They have bad diversion rates.
2:58:38
So, why go citywide with trash only infrastructure?
2:58:41
It's bad for labor.
2:58:43
Building staff and sanitation workers are still needing to lug these 50 pound bags around, something not allowed in European countries.
2:58:51
And it's bad for public space.
2:58:53
Sidewalks are overflowing with bins.
2:58:54
They've blocked storefronts.
2:58:56
You know, they may have 10 bins if there's walk ups above in front of the storefront for the walk ups above and the retail.
2:59:03
That's not the solution for our retail corridors.
2:59:07
And the enclosures full of bags that they're asking bids to use make sidewalks dirty because you have to drag bags into them, and they were deemed impractical in DSNY's own future of trash report.
2:59:18
Intro 11/23 is mandating citywide rollout of Empire Bins before they've even been piloted or evaluated before environmental review.
2:59:26
Why not pilot multiple options, compare them, and then move forward?
2:59:30
CP nine doesn't include any buildings over 80 units, whereas a quarter of units in Manhattan are in buildings with 300 or more units.
2:59:37
They'd require eight to 20 Empire bins per building.
2:59:41
There's better options that take up less curbside space temporarily and require no lifting of bags.
2:59:46
The staff could just wheel out wheeled bins, no maintenance of on street containers.
2:59:50
Pilot these solutions Hoboken are going to.
2:59:53
60% of their large buildings wanted to pilot them.
2:59:56
And lastly, community composting.
2:59:57
I want to thank you so much for your support of that.
3:00:00
I know you know how important it is.
3:00:01
City Council has been amazing.
3:00:03
I'd like it to be further tied into stormwater goals so it can be applied to parks and green spaces citywide to restore the health of soil citywide, reducing flooding and increasing health of trees and communities.
3:00:14
Thank you so much.