Sanchez asks about safe disposal events and capacity

And have you, has the department seen a lot of rechargeable batteries dropped off at the safe disposal events?

And if not, what could the department be doing to increase the traffic at safe disposal events?

So I would say the traffic at safe disposal events is never our problem.

I think our capacity to be able to handle the amount of people that show up is our problem.

Biggest challenge.

And we had a safe disposal event a couple weeks ago during the nor'easter.

And, you know, even though we did advise folks, you know, if it's not safe, don't come out, whatever, we still had over 800 people come.

to the safe disposal event to try to dispose of paint, batteries, electronics, et cetera.

So, you know, we would love to increase our capacity for those events.

Right now we're only funded for one per borough per year.

And, you know, we get a lot of volume as far as rechargeable batteries.

Jen, do you have anything to add there?

I would say that.

We have seen a great increase in the amount of batteries returned both at the safe events that the commissioner mentioned, but also at the special waste sites that the commissioner mentioned earlier that are now open five days per week.

That is very convenient for folks to come and bring their batteries in addition to the safe events, which are only one time a year.

The other point we would make about safety is those drop-off locations are for batteries that are not damaged.

It is important that damaged batteries, you do contact FDNY to come and...

Address them because there's a high risk of fire if the battery is damaged, leaking, swelling, obvious heat.

But as long as the battery, if it's not charging anymore or something like that, it's fine to bring to a safe event or to one of the special waste sites, one in each borough.

Thank you.