Chair Sanchez outlines hearing purpose and agenda items
Sanchez explains the hearing covers oversight of DSNY and BIC waste valorization efforts, plus two bills (Intro 256 on textile recycling study, Intro 970 on nightlife district street cleaning) and two resolutions (Res 122 on community composting in parks, Res 362 on bottle bill expansion).
Ready to do that?
The purpose of today's hearing is to learn more about the current work of the New York City Department of Sanitation and the Business Integrity Commission to seek value from our discarded materials and to help further the circular economy in New York City.
In addition to oversight, we will be hearing two bills and two resolutions today.
Intro number 256 by Councilmember Crystal Hudson would require the Department of Sanitation Commissioner to study and report on the feasibility and environmental effects of a mandate for households to separate and DSNY to collect textile waste.
The study would consider, among other things, the costs, potential benefits, and potential negative effects of such a mandate.
Intro 970 by Councilmember Jennifer Gutierrez would require the establishment of nightlife districts based on several criteria.
DSNY would be required to increase street sweeping and litter basket services by one day on the weekends in any such nightlife district at the request of the relevant community board.
This bill would also permit DSNY to resume its original street sweeping and litter basket schedule if, for 30 days, there has been a reduction in street cleanliness 3-in-1.
Street cleanliness
311 service requests in such nightlife districts.
Resolution 122, sponsored by Councilmember Sandy Nurse, calls on DSNY and the Department of Parks and Recreation to continue to engage and collaborate with local communities to encourage and allow community composting to be carried out on parkland.
And finally, Resolution 362, also sponsored by Councilmember Nurse, calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the governor to sign legislation to amend the environmental conservation law in relation to returnable bottles.
I look forward to the dialogue today, and I would like to thank everyone on my team for their work on this legislation and oversight.
And I'd also like to recognize Councilmember Wilson, who was here earlier, as well as DEP.
We will start by hearing testimony from DSNY and
Oh.
We will start by hearing testimony from DSNY and DEP, followed by some questions to the agencies, and then we will hear testimony from members of the public.