The New York City Chapter of the National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA) today is urging New York City (the City) to proceed with implementation of Local Law 146, sometimes referred to as the Commercial Organics Law. The 2013 law seeks to divert organic materials such as food scraps from traditional disposal sites, and requires that specific businesses that generate large amounts of organic waste work with their carter to seek and utilize alternatives to disposal for their material. One provision of Local Law 146 required the City’s Department of Sanitation Commissioner to determine by today whether adequate capacity exists within 100 miles of the City in order to proceed with compliance and implementation of this new organics disposal ban requirement.
NWRA’s New York City Chapter, which represents the approved and licensed private carting industry in the City, applauds the City’s efforts to divert organics for higher and better use than traditional disposal. NWRA and its member companies in the City believe the Commissioner should use all the tools available to her to proceed with further implementation of this City law. Further, NWRA’s New York City Chapter is concerned that any possible delay of implementation of Local Law 146 would undo and slow the progress that has been made between the private carting industry, generators of these organics and the City’s Department of Sanitation.
“This has been a complex issue requiring collaborative efforts between the City, businesses and the private carting industry,” commented Steve Changaris, New York City Chapter Manager of the NWRA. “We encourage implementation of this law. We know it will take time to educate and drive compliance, however the private carting industry is ready and willing to continue working with various City agencies and its customers to address the practical implications of implementing this law. Some of those implications include addressing space and physical limitations at a business location for the collection, storage and management of organics, as well as the need for the City’s Business and Integrity Commission to provide specialized rate relief for carters due to the extra costs incurred in managing organics separately. And, more broadly, creating incentives in the marketplace that make the production of compost both environmentally sustainable and economically sound for all stakeholders.”
For more information, visit: www.wasterecycling.org.