[greenyes] New York City

[RicAnthony@no.address]

In the report “Reaching for Zero; The Citizens Plan for Zero Waste in New 
York City” by Resa Dimino and Barabara Warren June 2004, a local study is cited 
that concludes that thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in new revenue 
will be created by maximizing recycling and stimulating local industrial growth 
in the recycling industry in New York City.  This current action by the City 
to collect and sell metal, glass and plastic to a local company who will invest 
in capital facilities is an example of such new revenue and new jobs.  The 
City paper contract to Visy Paper in 1997 created a local paper recycling 
industry and 160 new jobs on Staten Island.   

 This action by the City is the first in a series of steps that the City can 
make to get on the road to zero waste.  It makes sense because the markets for 
source separated paper, metal and plastics are at an all time high and folks 
in North Carolina don't want New York City's discards.   Education, training, 
economic development, legislation and regulation, and enforcement are all part 
of the citizens plan.   The next steps will determine the path.  

The Citizens plan calls for Material Reuse Facilities.  These facilities will 
handle reusable, repairable and dismantled discards.   When paper, glass, 
metal, plastic and reusables are separately collected, the great majority of the 
rest of the material is organic and inert materials.

One option is to separately collect these materials and barge them to the 
Fresh Kills disposal site for composting.  The rock of course will become 
aggregate.  The site, like most current urban burial sites, is a perfect location for 
a resource recovery park for composting and construction and demolition 
debris recycling.

Will New York adopt this plan?  The current elected officials need help in 
making this decision.  The consensus for a rational discard management policy is 
building.  There is a long history of citizen involvement in the politics 
involved with health and sanitation in the City and I am betting that the 
citizens with the business community on their side will get the job done.