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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Niki Cross, Staff Attorney at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, on NYC Sanitation Budget and Waste Reduction Programs
4:52:43
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151 sec
Niki Cross, representing New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, addresses concerns about the slow implementation of waste reduction programs in New York City despite a strong economic outlook. She emphasizes the importance of these programs for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving mandated goals for a more equitable and sustainable solid waste system.
- Cross highlights the low waste diversion rate (17-20%) and minimal food waste recycling (1%) in residential programs.
- She criticizes the slow rollout of the commercial waste zone program, calling for adequate funding for rapid implementation.
- The testimony underscores the need for accelerated progress in implementing landmark legislation on waste management and recycling.
Niki Cross
4:52:43
Good afternoon.
4:52:43
My name is Nikki Cross, and I'm a staff attorney with New York Lawyers for the Public Interest with our Environmental Justice Program.
4:52:51
Thanks for the opportunity to speak on behalf of NILPI regarding the sanitation hearing.
4:53:00
The independent budget office and state comptroller Dan Napoli both found that New York City's economic outlook remains strong and project significant budget surpluses.
4:53:11
Despite federal threats, the solid waste system remains under municipal control, and reducing disposed waste is still one of the best local strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from solid waste, which make up about 12% of New York's economy wide emissions.
4:53:31
Our city's waste reduction programs are at a critical crossroads.
4:53:36
In recent years, the city council has passed landmark legislation seeking to reform the solid waste system, including citywide curbside organics recycling, a citywide commercial waste zone program, and the Zero Waste Act with the goal of diverting 100% recyclable waste from landfills and incinerators.
4:53:57
However, we're troubled by the slow pace of implementation of these programs and are concerned that underfunding and further delays create unnecessary barriers to achieving our mandated goals to make our sprawling solid waste system more equitable, safe, and sustainable.
4:54:16
DSNY's twenty twenty four zero waste report shows that overall waste diversion lags at a troublingly low 17 to 20% and that only about 1% of residential food waste was recycled in the curbside's smart smart bin and community based composting programs.
4:54:35
Meanwhile, the amounts of waste generated, disposed, and recycled by the sprawling commercial sector are still unknown and are largely unregulated as DSNY has implemented only one of 20 zones and has set a timetable to implement only two additional zones this year.
4:54:53
DSNY continues to claim that this slow rollout is required for effective implementation, but also contradictorily says that the program has seen zero problems in its first zone.
4:55:05
We continue to call for adequate funding for a robust and rapid rollout now, not a trickle of zones over many more years.
4:55:13
Thank you.