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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Mary Ellen Sullivan, Chair of Brooklyn Solid Waste Advisory Board on Solid Waste Management
5:50:22
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3 min
Mary Ellen Sullivan, Chair of the Brooklyn Solid Waste Advisory Board, testified on the priorities of the four solid waste advisory boards across New York City. She emphasized the importance of efficient spending and the need to focus on composting and waste diversion efforts.
- Highlighted that 80% of residential waste is exported to landfills and incineration at a projected cost of $500 million in 2026
- Called for funding the New York City Community Composting Network and passing Intro 696 to realize compost's full benefits
- Urged doubling down on commitment to the NYC composting network by including their full funding request in the budget
- Emphasized the need for outreach and education to ensure resident participation in recycling and composting programs
Mary Ellen Sullivan
5:50:22
Again, thank you chairs Brennan and Abreu for this opportunity to address you My name is Mary Ellen Sullivan.
5:50:30
I'm the new chair of the Brooklyn Solid Waste Advisory Board, and my testimony today will reiterate the override overall priorities of the four solid waste advisory boards across New York City.
5:50:43
This budget hearing comes at a propitious moment as we transition from the city's 02/2006 to the 02/1927 solid waste management plan.
5:50:53
After three decades of divergent efforts, the takeaway is clear.
5:50:57
It's not just how much we spend, but how we spend it.
5:51:01
Today, 80% or roughly 2,800,000 tons of residential waste is exported to landfill and incineration annually at a projected cost of about $500,000,000 in 2026, very similar to what we heard earlier from the DSNY.
5:51:19
Organics make up 40% of exported waste, but only 4% or 5% is captured, and it's not compost until it's actually composted.
5:51:30
Local law 85 mandates source separation, but we must fund the New York City Community Composting Network and pass Intro six ninety six to realize compost's full environmental, social, and fiscal benefits.
5:51:44
The city's newly released New York City climate budgeting report references a hundred and $89,000,000 in capital investments in net zero emissions projects for fiscal year 2025 to 02/1935 that reduce emissions from organic material, solid waste, and wastewater treatment.
5:52:05
As the four swabs, we would like clarification on what exactly is included in these projects and how they will benefit diversion efforts on our mandated journey to zero waste.
5:52:17
Textiles are 5% of exported waste.
5:52:19
Intro February would study recycling mandate to expand local textile reuse
5:52:25
Infrastructure.
5:52:27
Sorry.
5:52:27
Real quick.
5:52:28
Intro six ninety seven requires DSNY to continue waste characterization studies, and it should include reuse and prevention data.
5:52:37
Intro June, we heard about, from Joyce Bialik.
5:52:42
I will skip that.
5:52:43
Much of the success of New York City's solid waste management plans hinge on funding outreach and education, ensuring residents fully participate in recycling and composting so we can reduce our reliance on waste export as called for in the city's 02/2006 plan.
5:53:00
We, the four four borough based solid waste advisory boards, urge you to double down on your commitment to the New York City composting network by including the network's full funding request into the budget.
5:53:11
This vital program excels at community outreach and education, a skill that is desperately needed right now.
5:53:18
Funding and integrating community compost into the city's long term waste management strategy is long overdue.
5:53:24
Thank you very much, and you can see more detail on our cross swab priorities in our submitted testimony.
Zhikang Ling
5:52:24
Your time's expired.