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Q&A
Costs and resources for composting education and outreach programs
0:45:56
·
67 sec
Council Member Abreu inquires about the projected costs and resources allocated for composting education and outreach programs.
- DSNY is using existing resources for education and outreach
- No additional or dedicated line item for composting education
- In-house outreach staff currently focused on organics outreach
- Discussion on the effectiveness of current resources for education efforts
Shaun Abreu
0:45:56
What are the projected costs associated with the city's composting education and outreach programs?
Joshua Goodman
0:46:04
So as the commissioner mentioned, the moment we're doing this with existing resources.
0:46:08
We have dedicated in house outreach staff who are currently focused on organics outreach.
0:46:13
There's no additional or dedicated line item for it, but we're doing this outreach every single day.
Shaun Abreu
0:46:18
It's fair to say that administration suspended fines because voters, as the mayor said, was confused, right, regarding what composting is, what it looks like, and, you know, what's compostable or not.
0:46:32
So is it the administration's position then that we don't need any additional line items for funding composting education?
Joshua Goodman
0:46:39
Everything's a matter of priorities, Mr.
0:46:41
Chair.
0:46:41
Right?
0:46:41
So first of all, just to clarify, I know it's come up a couple of times, only some fines were suspended.
0:46:48
Many fines can still be issued on this topic.
0:46:50
But we are now shifting our existing in house resources to continue outreach and education, working with our partners, the community composters on this as well, making sure that everybody knows by the end of the year what to do and how.
0:47:01
And fortunately, it's bearing out in the tonnage numbers.