February 29, 2024
Council Member Shaun Abreu, Chair
New York City Committee on Sanitation and Waste Management
My name is Jenille Scott, and I am the Climate Director of ALIGN: The Alliance
for a Greater New York. We bring together labor, climate, and community for a
more just and sustainable New York, and I am writing as one of the leading
organizations of the Transform Don’t Trash Coalition fighting for a green
economy and better conditions for our state’s workers. Thank you to Sanitation
committee chair Council Member Shaun Abreu for the opportunity to submit
testimony today.
ALIGN strongly supports Intro 55 which requires the Department of Sanitation
to accept commercial solid waste at city-owned or operated marine transfer
(MTS) stations and city-owned or operated rail transfer stations. The use of
marine transfer stations is a more environmentally sound practice than the use
of long haul trucks and will reduce truck miles traveled and traffic which
creates safer streets for pedestrians and reduces noise issues caused by the
current truck based system. Additionally, it will reduce the emission of harmful
pollutants which are released in already overburdened communities. This will
undoubtedly improve the air quality of these communities and create healthier
environments for workers. Marine transfer stations are operated by the New
York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) so there are more stringent
requirements for compliance with regulations and labor standards so there are
less concerns than with privately owned facilities.
Intro 55 also creates an accountability measure for DSNY in the form of an
annual report that should be submitted to the Mayor, Speaker and to be made
publicly available online around the acceptance and processing of commercial
waste at each transfer station. This further emphasizes the aforementioned
point of more stringent compliance requirements for DSNY which will ensure
proper functioning of the facilities and maintenance of cleaner and safer
streets for workers and the surrounding communities.
The timing of this bill is significant as progress, although delayed, is being
made on the implementation of 20 Commercial Waste Zones (required by Local
Law 199) later this year. These commercial waste zones were developed with
the intention of creating safer and healthier environments and Intro 55 helps to
further the purpose of LL199 . Additionally the 2006 Solid Waste Management
Plan (SWMP) is nearing expiration and the new 20-year SWMP is due in 2026 so
this is a prime opportunity to ensure we develop and implement the 2026
SWMP the right way.
We urge this committee and council to support the passage of Intro. 55 and
bring overdo reform to the solid waste management system in New York. Thank
you
Jenille Scott
Climate Director