New York City is undermining its major investments in solid waste and recycling infrastructure by allowing the private commercial waste industry to massively increase its reliance on trucking of commercial waste, according to a new report by the Transform Don’t Trash NYC coalition, titled “Trashing New York’s Neighborhoods.”
As the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has phased out the use of private truck-based transfer stations for residential waste, private haulers have trucked increasing amounts of commercial waste to these facilities, which are disproportionately located in low-income communities and communities of color.
The report comes as the City Council considers legislation to create an exclusive commercial waste zone system. The Commercial Waste Zone bill, Intro 1574, would enable haulers and customers to reduce and recycle far more waste cost-effectively—reducing the amount of waste dumped in New York City.