Anderson addresses textile recycling and lithium battery challenges
Anderson highlights textiles as 5% of the waste stream, current drop-off programs, and interest in private-sector mass-market solutions. He also discusses lithium battery disposal dangers and the need for producer responsibility to keep sanitation workers safe.
Similar model may be the path forward for two of our biggest challenges in the development of our waste management infrastructure, for used textiles and for lithium batteries.
For textiles, which represent about 5% of New York City's waste stream, there are a number of not-for-profit and for-profit entities developing their own operational capacity for sorting and processing, and DSNY is ready to assist as this industry develops.
Our current textile recycling partnership provides easy, convenient drop-off for many New Yorkers.
But we are interested in working with private sector partners to develop mass market solutions more aligned with our composting and traditional recycling programs.
Lithium batteries, on the other hand, have suddenly appeared in an incredible variety of products.
And that means they're in the trash somewhere in the city every single day.
They explode in our trucks and put sanitation workers and other workers at risk.
Imagine a world where lithium battery recycling becomes the economically preferable alternative to disposal, and producers are therefore incentivized to ensure proper handling of these items.
Shifting this response.
responsibility of the private sector would keep sanitation workers safer and reduce the extractive impacts of lithium mining.