New York City's Trash Plan Under Fire as Recycling Still Left Out in the Open, Critics Argue.
A scathing report by the Center for Building in North America and the Center for Zero Waste Design is casting a harsh light on New York City's ambitious plan to containerize trash across its five boroughs. The report criticizes Mayor Eric Adams' administration for not taking recycling into account when designing the city-wide program, which aims to get trash off sidewalks by requiring businesses and small residential buildings to use secure bins.
The group behind the report claims that while credit should be given to city officials for mandating secured garbage bins, the plan fails to address the growing issue of recyclables piling up on sidewalks. Paper, plastic, and glass recycling are still left exposed, despite being collected regularly.
Executive director Clare Miflin of the Center for Zero Waste Design argues that the city's focus on removing trash bags from sidewalks is too narrow and neglects the need for comprehensive waste management. She envisions a system where both recyclables and compostable waste are stored in bins alongside each other, not just trash.
The sanitation department plans to roll out its new "Empire Bins" – large containers designed to store trash from large buildings – on residential streets over the next seven years. However, the report questions whether this plan is truly ambitious enough, considering that smaller bins for recyclables and compost would be a more effective solution.
Sanitation spokesperson Joshua Goodman defends the city's approach, pointing out that narrow streets pose logistical challenges. He notes that once-weekly recycling collections are less attractive to rats than trash bags, which get collected more frequently.
While there is some precedent for adding compost and recycling to the Empire Bins – pilot programs have already been implemented outside school buildings in Brooklyn and Upper Manhattan – critics argue that this plan is too little, too late. The report highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach to waste management, one that takes into account both trash and recyclables.
As Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani takes office, Zero Waste Design's criticisms may have some resonance with him. Miflin is part of the 400-person team working on Mamdani's transition, and her organization has been vocal about its disagreements with the sanitation department's plan. With the mayor-elect on board, it remains to be seen whether New York City will adopt a more ambitious approach to waste management that includes both trash and recyclables.
A scathing report by the Center for Building in North America and the Center for Zero Waste Design is casting a harsh light on New York City's ambitious plan to containerize trash across its five boroughs. The report criticizes Mayor Eric Adams' administration for not taking recycling into account when designing the city-wide program, which aims to get trash off sidewalks by requiring businesses and small residential buildings to use secure bins.
The group behind the report claims that while credit should be given to city officials for mandating secured garbage bins, the plan fails to address the growing issue of recyclables piling up on sidewalks. Paper, plastic, and glass recycling are still left exposed, despite being collected regularly.
Executive director Clare Miflin of the Center for Zero Waste Design argues that the city's focus on removing trash bags from sidewalks is too narrow and neglects the need for comprehensive waste management. She envisions a system where both recyclables and compostable waste are stored in bins alongside each other, not just trash.
The sanitation department plans to roll out its new "Empire Bins" – large containers designed to store trash from large buildings – on residential streets over the next seven years. However, the report questions whether this plan is truly ambitious enough, considering that smaller bins for recyclables and compost would be a more effective solution.
Sanitation spokesperson Joshua Goodman defends the city's approach, pointing out that narrow streets pose logistical challenges. He notes that once-weekly recycling collections are less attractive to rats than trash bags, which get collected more frequently.
While there is some precedent for adding compost and recycling to the Empire Bins – pilot programs have already been implemented outside school buildings in Brooklyn and Upper Manhattan – critics argue that this plan is too little, too late. The report highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach to waste management, one that takes into account both trash and recyclables.
As Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani takes office, Zero Waste Design's criticisms may have some resonance with him. Miflin is part of the 400-person team working on Mamdani's transition, and her organization has been vocal about its disagreements with the sanitation department's plan. With the mayor-elect on board, it remains to be seen whether New York City will adopt a more ambitious approach to waste management that includes both trash and recyclables.
NYC's trash plan is still trashy 
, recycling is an afterthought. They're focusing on getting rid of bags from sidewalks but what about the actual trash? 
We need a comprehensive system not just a band-aid solution 
. Compost and recyclables in bins together, please! 
but seriously, shouldn't recycling just come with the territory like, you know, having air to breathe? 
anyway, it sounds like those Zero Waste folks are on point, kinda like how a pizza has multiple toppings, NYC needs multiple solutions for its trash probs 
. maybe they should've thought of that before building all these Empire Bins... i mean, come on, who doesn't love a good recycling bin party? 
It's time for some serious waste management overhaul, not just a band-aid solution like 'Empire Bins'. The mayor-elect is in now, so hopefully they'll listen to experts like Clare Miflin and Zero Waste Design. We need a comprehensive approach here, not more of the same old plan that's just a Band-Aid on a bullet wound 
. but seriously, it's kinda weird they're not thinkin' about recyclables too... like, shouldn't they be stored together in bins or somethin'? 
. it's all good that they're tryin' to make changes and stuff, but a little more thoughtfulness wouldn't hurt, ya know? 
. Theres no way that makes sense, but I guess its easier said than done.
! They're just trying to sweep recyclables under the rug, literally. I mean, come on, secure bins are one thing, but what about the actual recycling process? It's like they think we all know how to magically sort our trash into separate bins every time we put it out 
. And don't even get me started on the rats, whoop-de-doo, once-weekly recycles might be less attractive to them... geez! A more comprehensive approach would've been a good idea from the start 
and as for the empire bins, i get what josh goodman is sayin' about narrow streets bein a challenge 
but maybe instead of one-size-fits-all bins, they could just have smaller ones for recyclables and compost? idk, seems like a more practical solution to me 
. and don't even get me started on rats being attracted to recycling - isn't that like the ultimate party crasher 
They're trying to tackle one issue with the containerized trash plan, but they're not addressing the bigger problem - where are all these recyclables going? 
It's not rocket science, people! 
We've had pilot programs in Brooklyn and Upper Manhattan already, so let's just expand that! 
Not to mention, the streets are still littered with plastic, paper, and glass on the sidewalks... it's like they're not even trying 
like what even is the point of having secure bins if they're just gonna leave the good stuff out too? 
