Pilot of Waste Management Reforms for City’s Commercial Businesses to Launch in September
Unlike residential buildings which have their trash collected by the DSNY, commercial businesses are required to hire private carters to collect their waste. According to the January 30, 2024 news release by the DSNY, the reforms established by Local Law 199 of 2019 will change the current system which has been described as “inefficient, hazardous, and unsustainable” due in part to a lack of limitation on the number of carters that may service a particular neighborhood. The law’s reforms that will significantly overhaul the city’s commercial waste industry will establish “new safety standards for workers in the commercial carting industry, improve service for businesses, increase diversion rates, and reduce vehicle miles traveled as well as harmful emission from waste hauling vehicles. The program required the establishment of the division of the city into 20 Commercial Waste Zones, each to be served by up to three designated private carters. In addition, the awarded contracts are to a mix of small, medium, and large carters, thereby “directly addressing concerns from advocates that this reform would lead to an industry dominated by a few large companies.” Central Queens, which includes Jackson Heights, Corona, and Elmhurst will be the first zone to come online as the pilot district; and upon the slated rollout of September 3, 2024, to January 1, 2025, “anyone who currently has their waste collected by a private carter must enter a new written service agreement, or contract, with one of the carters authorized to collect from their zone.” Three carters have been selected for each zone to provide small businesses with service choices and competitive pricing. For containerized waste pickup from compactors and businesses with loading docks, the DSNY established contracts with five carters that will operate citywide. Upon implementation, businesses will be able to “compare the maximum monthly rates the carters are allowed to charge;” and as part of the agreement with the city, “carters must charge their customers less for the collection of recycling and compostable material than they do for the collection of refuse, giving New York City’s 200,000 businesses an opportunity to save money while helping divert material from landfill.” In addition, each carter submitted plans to utilize zero emission vehicles in the provision of their services.