The bill, Intro. 1574-A, was signed into law by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on November 20.
New York City is getting a makeover. Not to the subway system or to tourist-packed destinations like Times Square but to its commercial waste and recycling collection system, which handles upwards of 3 million tons of waste and recycling annually.
The overhaul is the result of Intro. 1574-A, legislation that will divide New York City into 20, non-exclusive zones, each serviced by up to three carters. The bill, which has been in the works for about four years, was officially signed into law by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on November 20.
While some see this revamp as a way to create a safer, more efficient collection system, others have expressed concerns that it presents large risks for the city as well as an unfair advantage to haulers of a certain size.
Waste360 has dissected the new commercial waste zones bill to better understand how it will affect the future of commercial waste and recycling in New York City.
What the Commercial Waste Zones System Entails
The commercial waste zones system will be administered by the City of New York Department of Sanitation (DSNY) in partnership with the Business Integrity Commission. It will apply to the collection of commercial refuse, recyclables and source separated organic waste; construction and demolition waste, medical waste and other types of waste will continue to be collected and managed under current regulations.
The system was developed through extensive stakeholder engagement and about four years of studies and analyses. It builds on New York City’s zero waste goals outlined in the mayor's OneNYC plan and aims to create a safer and more efficient collection system that provides high-quality, low-cost service to New York City businesses, according to Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia.
Under the new program model, New York City will be divided into 20 zones, each serviced by three carters. In addition, five carters will be selected to provide containerized collection service citywide for dumpsters and compacters used by large facilities such as hospitals, office buildings and stadiums.
Each carter can be awarded only 15 zones in total, and each zone can have up to two subcontractors.
The carters will be selected during a request for proposals (RFP) process in May 2020 that weighs companies’ past compliance with regulations as well as their proposals to improve safety, reduce waste, increase recycling and reuse, provide exceptional customer service, transition to zero-emission fleets and achieve zero waste goals.
According to Garcia, carters that seek to invest in infrastructure and technology that promote program goals including clean vehicles, safety, technology and sustainable waste management facilities will receive favorable consideration during the selection process.
“The competitive procurement will ensure that the selected carters would be those able to provide a competitive price while also meeting and exceeding standards for service, safety, infrastructure investment and efficiency and demonstrating a strong commitment to zero waste goals,” said Garcia during a briefing call on November 20.