Lewis Dubuque (NWRA) on Intro 353, 367, and 911A
Lou Dubuque of the National Waste and Recycling Association strongly supports Intro 353's working group, supports expanding marine and rail use with concerns about mandatory participation under Intro 367, and notes written testimony was submitted on Intro 911A. His oral testimony is cut off by the time limit.
Yes, I can hear everyone.
Good afternoon, Chair Sanchez and members of the committee.
My name is Lou Dubuque, Vice President for the Northeast Region for the National Waste and Recycling Association.
NWRA represents the private companies that collect and manage commercial waste and recyclables throughout New York City.
Our members will serve customers in 19 of the city's 20 commercial waste zones when fully implemented.
I want to thank you for the opportunity to testify in intros 353, 367, and 911A.
First, NWRA strongly supports Intro 353, establishing a commercial waste zone working group.
Two years ago, I testified before this committee in support of creating a formal stakeholder working group because we believed a program as large and complex as the CWZ would require ongoing collaboration.
As implementation has progressed, that has proved to be exactly the case.
The CWZ program is unlike anything else in the country.
While there have been challenges, our industry remains fully committed to making it successful.
Our members have invested millions of dollars in new equipment, facilities, employees, and infrastructure to help achieve the city's goals of improving safety, reducing traffic, lowering emissions, and providing reliable services.
A permanent working group will allow DSNY, industry, labor, elected officials, and other stakeholders to identify challenges early and develop practical solutions together and continue improving the program.
over time.
We respectfully urge the committee to approve Intro 353.
Regarding Intro 367, NRA supports expanding environmentally responsible transportation options, including greater use of marine and rail.
Those are all goals we share.
However, we have serious concerns that participation becomes mandatory.
During the CWZ procurement, companies developed bids, negotiated disposal agreements, invested in infrastructure, and established customer pricing based on the rules that existed at the time.
Requiring companies after contract...
Thank you, your time expired.
Okay, we've submitted written testimony earlier, so you'll have the chance to read that there.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
Thank you so much.