Mayor Bloomberg Signs Legislation Codifying the City’s Pilot Program to Collect Organic Materials and Suspending Leaf and Yard Waste Collection
Remarks by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws
“The first of eight bills before me today is Introductory Number 1107-A, sponsored by Council Members Rose, Koo, Koppell, Palma, Vallone, Brewer, Chin, Jackson, Barron and Williams. This legislation codifies an important pilot our Administration is undertaking to collect organic material from our schools and residential areas throughout the City, while suspending regular leaf and yard waste collection citywide during this time.
“City residents produce a tremendous amount of waste that is sent to landfills. However, much of this waste can be recycled, re-used, or processed. The organics collection pilot will issue collection bins to one or two-family homes, strictly to collect organic material such as food scraps and yard waste material on their normally occurring recycling collection day. By June 1, 2014, the pilot will be expanded to four collection areas in different boroughs, with the goal of reaching 100,000 households and will continue to at least July 2015.
“The Department of Sanitation will also establish a school organic waste collection pilot program that will reach at least four hundred schools in all five boroughs by January 1, 2015. Provided there is sufficient room within collection trucks, the Sanitation Department will provide this same collection service to residential buildings with nine or more units located on the school route.
“Beginning June 1, 2014, the Department of Sanitation will issue a report every six months on the amount of organic material diverted and include this information within their annual recycling report. By January 1, 2015, the Department will issue a study on improving community composting and make recommendations to increase participation and improve the program. By October 1, 2015, they will issue a report on the performance metrics of the organics collection programs included within the bill.
“The regular schedule for leaf and yard waste collection will be suspended until July 1, 2016 while the organics collection pilot continues to reach additional areas throughout the City.
“I would like to thank Department of Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty and his staff along with my Office of City Legislative Affairs for their work on this bill. I would also like to thank the City Council for approving this legislation.”