Eric Goldstein (NRDC) testifies in support of Intro 256 and SWAMP review
Eric Goldstein of NRDC supports Intro 256 for textile recycling study, suggests analyzing non-DSNY collection options and tracking what happens to collected textiles, supports Intro 970 and both resolutions, and urges the Council to review and strengthen the draft Solid Waste Management Plan.
Thank you.
Good morning, Chair Sanchez, and welcome to your new committee council.
My name is Eric Goldstein.
I'm the New York City Environment Director at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
NRDC strongly supports Intro 256, which would mandate that DSNY study the source separation of textiles in their collection by the Department of Sanitation.
Textiles make up between 5 and 6 percent of the city's municipal solid waste.
Their manufacture and disposal is an environmental problem, a climate problem, and a budgetary burden for New York City residents.
We make one important friendly suggestion to the proposed language of Intro 256.
In addition to studying the possibility of textile collection by the department, we urge the council to direct ESNY to analyze other options for textile collection, including expansion of the current system in place for some multi-story buildings now run in cooperation, as you've heard,
with HELPSI and the New York State Industries.
for the disabled.
And additionally, we recommend that the council ensure that the bill language directs DSNY to examine what happens to textiles that are collected for recycling and whether and how those materials are actually reused or recycled.
We also support Intro 970, which would enhance street cleaning and litter basket service in certain New York City neighborhoods, and the two resolutions before the Council today.
But the most pressing matter for this committee to engage in in the weeks ahead, we respectfully suggest, is to review and enhance the draft solid waste management plan prepared by DSNY.
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
The current draft prepared by DSNY needs help, and in several important areas is insufficiently supportive of the Council's long-term goals on sustainability and zero waste, and its generalized language is too amorphous to drive policy forward.
It's a lost opportunity.
We hope the Council will play an important role, as it has in the last two solid waste management plans, in enhancing this document, and we look forward to working with you in that mission.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Hannah?