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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Eric Goldstein, NYC Environment Director of Natural Resources Defense Council
2:34:11
ยท
3 min
Eric Goldstein from the Natural Resources Defense Council testified on the implementation of New York City's commercial waste zone (CWZ) program. He emphasized the slow progress of the program and recommended amendments to local law 199 to ensure timely implementation and monitoring of performance objectives.
- Criticized the delay in enforcing the organic separation law and suggested intensified education and outreach efforts
- Expressed support for Intro 784 (grease disposal tracking) and Intro 1228 (expanding organic waste separation requirements)
- Acknowledged the positive impact of the council's oversight on pushing the program forward
Eric Goldstein
2:34:11
Good afternoon, chair Abreu.
2:34:15
Eric Goldstein from the Natural Resources Defense Council.
2:34:17
I'm gonna summarize my written testimony.
2:34:20
For decades, the system for collecting trash from businesses, restaurants, and industrial establishments has been completely broken, as you know.
2:34:29
Hundreds of private carters, sanitation trucks racing around the city every night, high speeds, overlapping irrational routes, poorly trained, poorly treated workers, older polluting vehicles, millions of miles of diesel truck traffic every year, safety on the public streets endangered.
2:34:46
When the council passed local law one ninety nine of 2019, it was with the intent to address these problems.
2:34:53
Major reform objectives included reducing vehicle miles traveled, curbing vehicular crashes, improving training and worker conditions for private sanitation employees, enhanced recycling and composting, and transparent processing.
2:35:07
But today, implementation of the waste zone program has been going excruciatingly slow, and we do not have information on the extent to which any of these objectives that the council had when it passed the law are being achieved in the first zone.
2:35:23
We recommend that the council amend local law one ninety nine to insert into the law date certain for the full citywide implementation of the zone program and for, directing this Department of Sanitation to monitor and track the performance of waste zone corridors in achieving the labor environmental and public safety objectives.
2:35:44
We hope that some of that information will be available in the annual report, but we think a mandate will be necessary so that we can determine the extent to which those goals are being achieved.
2:35:55
Turning to the department's flip flop and delay in enforcing the landmark organic separation law, This is an unfortunate development, but the delay was foreseeable in view of the meager education and outreach efforts undertaken by the department over the past year.
2:36:10
The retreat on enforcement will only be helpful if the department uses the extra time to intensify its efforts and commits necessary staff and resources to educate the public, to distribute tens of thousands of kitchen counter organic bins, and to meet with supers and building managers to explain how the program works and why it's so important.
2:36:30
Also, the department would be wise to acknowledge the critical role that community composting NGOs play in building support for and participation in the curbside program.
2:36:40
Finally, just a word on the two bills on today's agenda.
2:36:43
Intro seven eighty one seven eighty four is an important piece of legislation to address the often overlooked problem resulting in the disposal of yellow and brown grease in the sewage system.
2:36:55
NRDC strongly supports this legislation.
2:36:57
Intro twelve twenty eight is another important bill that would direct the s n y to expand the categories of businesses subject to the requirements for separation and disposal of organics.
2:37:07
NRDC is fully supportive of the objectives of this bill.
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We believe that it makes sense to ensure successful implementation for the council to engage in conversations with the restaurant industry to build understanding and support for the legislation from the businesses that will be subject to this law before passage of the statute.
2:37:28
And we look forward to working with you on those details.
2:37:31
And we thank you for your leadership.
2:37:33
Just holding this hearing today, as you see, was successful in at least triggering the department's announcing of a goal, for implementation of the of fully full implementation of the waste zone program.
2:37:47
So your hearings are having an impact.
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Your oversight is having an impact.
2:37:51
And we appreciate everything that council has done to move this landmark program forward.