Improved Source Separation in Public Places and Zero Waste Reporting Mandated
in Legislation by Council Member Kallos
Bill would Increase City’s Waste Diversion and Recycling Rates
in Legislation by Council Member Kallos
Bill would Increase City’s Waste Diversion and Recycling Rates
New York, NY – In order to support the City’s Zero Waste goal by 2030 and improve the city’s dismal recycling rate, legislation introduced by Council Member Kallos would require source separation to be available in any place of public accommodation with bins for trash, recycling, and compost. Additional legislation would require New York City reach its goal of Zero Waste - diverting all waste from landfills — by 2030, regardless of the next Mayor. Both bills will be introduced on April 25th at the City Council's stated meeting.
“The city has set a goal of Zero Waste by 2030 without an Executive Order or a plan to get there. Now that the city has set a goal, it is time to put into the law. The city should be looking for ways to reduce waste we send to landfills instead of wasting hundreds of millions building marine transfer-to-landfill stations,” said Council Member Ben Kallos, who represents a Marine Transfer Station currently under construction on the border of East Harlem. “Recycling should be a habit. New Yorkers should be able to recycle whether they are home, at work, in a park, or catching a quick bite to eat. Recycling by places that offer public accommodation can and must be better.”
New York City generates 44 million pounds of residential and commercial waste every day with only one-third diverted from landfills. The legislation by Kallos codifies the Zero Waste by 2030 requirement and mandates that the city report on feasibility along with how it will achieve this goal. The process of recycling begins with properly sorting trash, the better separated, the more effective the recycling. The city’s commercial recycling rate of just 19% is well below the 34% national average, and far short of what is necessary to achieve Zero Waste.
“The city has set a goal of Zero Waste by 2030 without an Executive Order or a plan to get there. Now that the city has set a goal, it is time to put into the law. The city should be looking for ways to reduce waste we send to landfills instead of wasting hundreds of millions building marine transfer-to-landfill stations,” said Council Member Ben Kallos, who represents a Marine Transfer Station currently under construction on the border of East Harlem. “Recycling should be a habit. New Yorkers should be able to recycle whether they are home, at work, in a park, or catching a quick bite to eat. Recycling by places that offer public accommodation can and must be better.”
New York City generates 44 million pounds of residential and commercial waste every day with only one-third diverted from landfills. The legislation by Kallos codifies the Zero Waste by 2030 requirement and mandates that the city report on feasibility along with how it will achieve this goal. The process of recycling begins with properly sorting trash, the better separated, the more effective the recycling. The city’s commercial recycling rate of just 19% is well below the 34% national average, and far short of what is necessary to achieve Zero Waste.