Improved Source Separation in Public Places and Zero Waste Reporting Mandated
in Legislation Re-introduced 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.
Source Separation Int. No. 843
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring that public spaces in buildings include labeled waste and recycling receptacles
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 16 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 16-143 to read as follows:
§ 16-143 Labeling of waste and recycling bins. a. Building spaces that may be accessed by the general public, and the public parts of dwellings, as such term is defined in section 27-2004 of the housing maintenance code, shall include at least one of each of the following receptacles, which shall be labeled as follows:
1. A receptacle intended to collect putrescible and nonputrescible waste, as such terms are defined in section 16-130 of the code, which shall be labeled “Landfill.”
2. A receptacle intended to collect recyclables, which shall be labeled “Recycling.”
3. A receptacle intended to collect food and organic waste, which shall be labeled “Compost.”
b. Labels shall be placed on the top and side of each receptacle. Such labels shall be in a form approved by the department and shall be at least three inches in height and eight inches in length.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law, except that the commissioner of sanitation may take such actions as are necessary for its implementation, including the promulgation of rules, before such effective date.
Zero Waste goal by 2030 Int. No. 844
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing a goal of zero waste for New York City by 2030
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 16 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 16-143 to read as follows:
§ 16-143 Zero waste goal. a. Diversion of citywide-generated waste. The department shall establish a goal of diverting citywide-generated waste by one hundred percent by calendar year 2030.
b. If the department determines that such citywide-generated waste diversion goal is not feasible despite the best efforts of city government, the department shall report such findings and make recommendations with respect to policies, programs and actions that may be undertaken to achieve such diversion within 180 days of such determination.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.