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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Domingo Morales, Founder and CEO of Compost Power
4:57:21
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136 sec
Domingo Morales, founder and CEO of Compost Power, testified about the impact of city council funding on community composting initiatives, particularly in public housing. He emphasized the benefits of composting, including rodent reduction, job creation, and environmental improvements.
- Compost Power operates in public housing, demonstrating that local composting can reduce rodent populations and increase green spaces.
- The organization created tools like the rodent reduction rubric with city support.
- Morales expressed gratitude for the citywide recognition and funding received last year, which allowed for the creation of the New York City community compost network with nearly two dozen CBOs.
Domingo Morales
4:57:21
Thank you Chair of Brayu and City Council for having me.
4:57:26
My name is Domingo Morales, founder and CEO of Compost Power, an organization that prides itself, as Rhonda said here on making composting cool by removing the negative stigmas associated with composting such as increased rodent pressure, foul odors and other landfill conditions.
4:57:43
We operate in public housing showing residents that composting locally can reduce rodent populations and increase rodent free green spaces throughout the city.
4:57:52
Finished compost can be used to grow food locally, mitigate erosion from storm water runoff, reduce methane emissions and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides while simultaneously creating jobs.
4:58:04
We're making composting cool for New York City residents.
4:58:07
Compost Power was funded by city council last year and what did that prove?
4:58:10
That proved that with investment we can do great things.
4:58:13
It proves that with the city support we can create tools like the rodent reduction rubric, a tool that we helped create to enable composters and community gardens to reduce rodent populations in their community.
4:58:25
Last year city council made a statement that it cares about New York City Housing Authority.
4:58:30
One in seventeen New Yorkers who have been historically left out of DSNY's vision for a zero waste city.
4:58:37
Before compost power was funded through the community compost with discretionary funds, We were funded by individual city council members and we are always grateful for that support that we get from the city.
4:58:49
However, last year was so special because we were recognized by the entire council.
4:58:54
As an organization that serves all five boroughs, we are thankful that we have a city council that cares about their people.
4:59:00
I'm not here to tell you what what to do with your funding next year.
4:59:03
I'm just here to tell you how your funding impacted New York City last year.
4:59:06
And I'm also here to inform you that the funding you gave to community composting last year was not in vain.
4:59:11
We worked hard to create the New York City community compost network with almost two dozen CBOs.
4:59:17
We know what the true enemy is.
4:59:18
The true enemy is being unsustainable, taking out taxpayer dollars and wasting them on programs that don't work or even worse spending valuable time bickering over who has the perfect solution.
4:59:28
So I'm here to show support for city council.
4:59:30
I'm here to tell you that no matter what you do with the funding this year, we're here to support you to make New York City the best city that it can be.
4:59:37
Thank you.