Thursday, October 15, 2026, 1 p.m. (New York City time), 250 Broadway - 8th Floor - Hearing Room 1
Committee: Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management
The Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management, chaired by Council Member Justin E. Sanchez, held an oversight hearing on implementation of the Waste Equity Law (Local Law 152 of 2018) and heard five bills: Intro 30 (stationary on-street containers for City-owned nonresidential buildings), Intro 987 (on-street containers on request of block and nonprofit associations), Intro 352 (plan for disposal of micromobility batteries), Intro 401 (public organic waste receptacles in every community district) and Intro 1041 (limits on removing litter baskets for misuse). The chair noted a 15% citywide drop in transfer station volume but said none of the four designated districts had reached their mandated capacity reductions and about 74% of citywide throughput remains concentrated there; the Sanitation Commissioner said the law has been fully implemented as written, citing exemptions for recycling, organics and rail export, and pointed to commercial waste zones and containerization by 2031. The Commissioner said the department halted removing litter baskets for misuse when he took office on March 30, 2026, said it could not support Intro 401, raised concerns about Intro 30's scope, and committed to provide data on exemptions and follow up on several requests. Advocates from WE ACT, NYLCV, NYLPI, UPROSE, NYC-EJA, the Solid Waste Advisory Boards, Cafeteria Culture, NRDC and residents testified, many urging use of marine transfer stations for commercial waste; the bills were heard and no votes were taken.
0:16 Thank you. Okay?
0:16 We oh, good afternoon and
0:19 welcome to today's New York
0:21 City Council
0:22 . Hearing on committee on
0:25 sanitation and solid waste
0:27 management during this time
0:28 during this today's hearing no
0:31 1 approach the dais, please. A
0:34 silence and you're turning
0:34 devices, you might have.
0:35 You begin. Thank you, roman.
0:41 Good morning. Oh, good
0:43 afternoon, everyone. I think
0:44 this is the latest start time
0:45 that we've ever had to this
0:47 committee. Good afternoon,
0:48 everyone and welcome to
0:51 today's committee on
0:51 sanitation and solid waste
0:52 management
0:52 . I want to give all of you
0:53 guys that are actually in here
0:55 a round of applause. Thank you
0:56 for joining us. Thank you for
0:57 caring about waste equity in
0:59 our City, having said that my
1:03 name is Justin Sanchez. I am a
1:05 Council Member and proud chair
1:07 of this committee. I want t
1:09 othank all the members of the
1:10 committee and the
1:11 representatives of the oddeman
1:12 for joining us today. Um, the
1:17 council members who are her
1:17 epresent with us, our council
1:19 members Council Member luis
1:20 comes, remember Hankerson? Um,
1:26 I see no one on zoom.
1:28 Thank you. Everyone for your
1:33 wide attendance. Today's
1:34 purpose of today's oversight
1:35 hearing is to learn more about
1:37 these cities city's
1:38 implementation of the waste
1:41 equity law, so this was passed
1:42 as local law 1 52 in 20 18 t
1:47 oassess our progress on
1:49 reducing the negative impacts
1:50 of the city's waste collectio
1:51 n, recycling and transfer
1:53 industry on vulnerable New
1:55 yorkers, New York city's most
1:59 econicalomly disadvantaged
2:00 communities and communities of
2:01 color. Hi, my district tend t
2:06 oface disproportionate health
2:08 hazards associated with waste
2:12 transfer infrastructure,
2:13 specifically bronx 1 and 2
2:15 . High exposure to heavy truck
2:17 traffic and the accompanying
2:19 noise air pollution and odor
2:20 have been linked to various
2:22 negative health and
2:24 developmental outcomes,
2:24 including but not limited to
2:29 reduce intellectual
2:30 development and children
2:31 increased incidence of asthma
2:32 and heightened risk of heart
2:33 defects and low birth weights
2:35 and babies when birthing
2:36 parents are exposed to truck
2:37 emissions during pregnancies
2:40 . I'd also like to note tha
2:41 twe've been welcomed by counsel
2:45 member. Oh, and the truck
2:45 sounded just on that
2:46 . If you can hear that the
2:49 waist equity laws mandated
2:50 reduction in private transfer
2:52 station capacity are meant t
2:54 ohelp to alleviate some o
2:55 fthese harms experienced by
2:57 environmental justice
2:59 communities.
2:59 Also the commonly referred
3:01 to during this hearing as e. J
3:04 communities and to encourage
3:05 means of transferring waste
3:06 that avoid diesel trucks,
3:09 every waste transfer station
3:11 located in four of the city's
3:13 most burden community
3:14 districts that includes
3:15 brooklyn community district
3:18 one queens community district
3:19 12 and bronx community
3:20 districts one and community
3:24 district, none in manhattan, a
3:25 work required to comply with
3:27 waste capacity
3:28 . Reductions in order to
3:30 ensure effective oversight the
3:31 waist equity law imposed
3:33 reporting and notification
3:34 requirements on the departmen
3:36 tof sanitation to track the
3:38 permitted capacity in
3:39 different ways transportations
3:40 track any impacts on
3:41 employment from these
3:43 reductions alert the Mayor and
3:44 the council in the event that
3:45 a waste transfer station
3:47 approaches or exceeds their
3:47 total permitted capacity and
3:51 report on the feasibility of
3:52 reducing truck traffic and
3:54 residential neighborhoods
3:55 through means other than
3:59 capacity reductions since 20
3:59 19 y has complied with the
4:01 laws reporting requirements by
4:03 publishing annual
4:04 implementation reports and
4:04 providing the relevant data
4:06 for that
4:06 . Year the most recent waste
4:09 equity law implantation annual
4:13 report for calendar year 202
4:14 5was just released last month.
4:15 We are pleased that wise data
4:18 shows that overall the waste
4:20 transfer station volume is
4:22 approximately 16083 tons per
4:25 day, which represents a 15%
4:27 decrease in the waist transfer
4:32 volume citywide. I want t
4:33 ounderscore that citywide I
4:33 nthe law's passage, however,
4:36 that being said we are
4:38 concerned that none zero of
4:42 the four designated community
4:43 district slated for the
4:45 mandated reductions and
4:47 permitted private
4:48 transportation capacity have
4:49 achieved full compliance wit
4:50 hthe reduction of the
4:51 requirements of the waste
4:54 equity law. Additionally, we
4:55 are worried that the permitted
4:57 capacity reductions we have
4:58 seen targeted, mostly unused
5:01 capacity. Uh, waste transfer
5:02 stations and that two station
5:03 sappear to have not gone any
5:08 reduction whatsoever.
5:08 Uh, and just so that
5:09 everyone is on the same page.
5:10 Um, so out of the fou
5:12 rcommunity districts that we
5:13 talked about brooklyn one
5:15 ,queen 12, bronx one and bronx
5:18 to brooklyn. One was supposed
5:20 to have a 52 50% reduction and
5:23 capacity, whereas queens 12,
5:26 bronx one and bronx to we're
5:27 supposed to have a 33%
5:30 reduction capacity, and none
5:31 of those targets have been hit
5:34 . So having said that, um
5:38 ,despite progress on the waist
5:39 equity laws we want to be
5:40 clear that we have seen a 15%
5:42 reduction in the City wide, so
5:44 they're has been progress as a
5:47 despite that progress. Th
5:48 ecity is far from achieving it
5:49 ,I could go the burdens of
5:52 waste transfer infrastructure
5:54 citywide to date approximately
5:56 74% of citywide throughput,
6:00 the average daily amount of
6:01 solid waste delivered from a
6:02 solid waste transfer station
6:06 . Remains concentrated in the
6:08 four designated community
6:11 districts.
6:11 We look forward to hearing
6:12 from y and advocates about the
6:14 implementation challenges and
6:15 the shortcomings of the ways
6:17 equity law and the city's
6:18 plans to fulfill the law's
6:20 requirements as soon as
6:21 possible. We also look forward
6:24 to discussing proposals to
6:24 improve waste infrastructur
6:27 einequity is born by these
6:28 communities, in addition t
6:29 othe oversight we will be
6:30 hearing five bills today
6:34 .first intro. Number 30. Oh,
6:37 before you start that we've
6:37 been welcomed by a council
6:40 number 30 sponsored by the
6:46 majority leader of brazil and
6:46 Council Member luis.
6:49 Would require the City t
6:50 ocreate a program that would
6:51 mandate City owned
6:52 nonresidential buildings to
6:53 dispose of their ways and
6:55 stationary on containers.
6:59 Intro number 987 sponsored my
7:01 majority leader abroad and
7:02 Council Member wrestler would
7:04 allow block associations and
7:06 nonprofit associations to
7:08 request stationary on street
7:09 waste containers for the
7:09 storage and collection of
7:12 waste. Next up and show number
7:14 3 52, sponsored by council
7:17 Nurse.
7:18 Which were required y to
7:18 develop a plan for ensuring
7:20 proper disposal of
7:22 rechargeable batteries used
7:23 for powered mobility devices
7:24 such.
7:25 Motasorized bicycles and
7:29 scooters
7:30 . We are also hearing in show
7:32 4 0 1 sponsored by
7:33 councilmember wrestler, which
7:34 would require y to install a
7:35 minimum number of public
7:38 organic waste receptacles in
7:39 every community district
7:42 finally, intro number 1041,
7:45 sponsored by a this bill would
7:48 bar and wife from removing
7:50 . Public litter baskets solely
7:52 on the basis that they were
7:53 used for illegal dumping
7:55 . Requiring notification to
7:56 council members and community
7:57 boards when a removal is
7:59 proposed and publishing data
8:00 around. Why baskets were
8:01 removed and why I now pass the
8:05 floor and the mic to council
8:06 member Hankerson to discuss
8:09 this bill. Thank you. Chair.
8:11 Ah, good afternoon, everyone
8:12 for years, New yorkers have
8:13 been calling for cleaners,
8:14 streets and better sanitation
8:15 services to improve the
8:16 quality of life in their
8:18 neighborhoods. Residents have
8:19 continuously pushed for more
8:20 public litter baskets and
8:21 council members have even
8:22 allocated funding, too y t
8:25 obring more baskets into their
8:27 districts. Yet despite these
8:28 efforts there never seemed t
8:32 obe enough. Part of the reason
8:33 is a shameful practice by and
8:34 why at least, I think it's
8:35 shameful of routinely removing
8:36 public litter baskets in
8:38 response to illegal dumping or
8:40 the disposal of household
8:41 garbage, which the department
8:43 categorizes as improper use of
8:45 these baskets in doing s
8:48 oentire neighborhoods of
8:49 thousands of residents are
8:50 being punished for the actions
8:52 of a few bad actors and
8:55 instead of addressing the
8:57 people responsible for the
8:58 dumping we
8:58 . Were away a service that the
9:00 rest of the community is in so
9:02 desperate need off
9:05 . In southeast queens where I
9:06 represent. We have spent a
9:06 great deal of time fighting t
9:08 oget our streets clean and to
9:11 keep them clean. I understand
9:12 the frustration that comes
9:13 with repeatedly cleaning the
9:16 same location, only to retur
9:16 nthe next morning and find it
9:17 covered in improper waste
9:20 again, but removing a little
9:21 basket does very little t
9:21 oaddress the behavior now, the
9:26 uae has stated that it no
9:29 longer engages in this
9:30 practice and I welcome that
9:32 change. Thank you
9:33 , but I believe it is in our
9:36 best interest.
9:36 Chair for a communities to
9:39 codify that protection into
9:39 law so that
9:40 . It remains the standard
9:41 regardless of who was leading
9:42 the agency or the City under
9:45 intro hundred 41, no longer be
9:47 permitted to remove a publi
9:48 clitter basket solely on the
9:49 grounds of illegal dumping.
9:52 The bill would require the
9:53 department to notify the local
9:54 Council Member and community
9:56 board before removing the
9:57 basket and give them tim
9:58 businesses days to respond.
10:02 A local community boards and
10:03 elected officials here
10:04 directly from residents about
10:05 the situation. I'm sorry about
10:07 the sanitation conditions in
10:08 their neighborhoods, they
10:09 should have an opportunity t
10:10 oweigh in before service has
10:11 taken away from the very
10:12 people that they represent
10:15 legislation will require
10:16 reporting on basket removal
10:17 and subsequent little
10:19 complaints giving us a better
10:20 understanding of whether these
10:22 decisions are actually
10:23 improving the conditions o
10:24 fthe neighborhoods that we
10:25 represent and lived in a after
10:29 day, New yorkers paid taxes
10:30 for sanitation services, and
10:31 they have every right t
10:32 oexpect those services to be
10:35 maintained if someone is
10:36 abusing a little basket, then
10:37 our attention should be
10:38 directed to the person
10:42 responsible, we should be
10:43 increasing enforcement against
10:43 illegal dumping and working
10:44 with communities to address
10:46 these problems locations
10:47 rather than reducing the very
10:49 services residents have fought
10:53 to receive. I am proud respond
10:53 to this legislation and look
10:54 forward to working with my
10:55 colleagues to get it. Pass.
10:56 Thank you. Chair. Thank you so
11:02 much comes remember Hankerson.
11:04 I look forward to the dialogue
11:05 regarding these bills today, I
11:06 would also like to thank
11:08 everyone and my team. Um,
11:11 especially my legislative
11:12 director river alexander for
11:13 all of the work in getting
11:15 this together and the
11:17 sanitation committee staff um,
11:18 especially to me and, um, last
11:20 time we shouted out samia, but
11:22 this time I really want t
11:23 omake sure that we're shouting
11:25 out natasha bynum, who is also
11:27 our co counsel at on this
11:29 committee and we were so
11:30 excited by the work.
11:34 Aunt. Um, I want to make
11:35 sure before we continue tha
11:36 twe have also been joined by
11:40 the amazing councilmember
11:41 haneef via zoom. Thank you,
11:45 councilmember beneath and with
11:45 that. I want to make sure I'm
11:47 not forgetting anything. We
11:48 will start by hearing
11:49 testimony from the department
11:51 of sanitation, followed by
11:51 some questions to the agency
11:53 and then we will hear
11:54 testimony from the public. I
11:57 will now turn it over to a
11:58 committee counsel t
11:59 oadminister the oath. Good
12:03 afternoon. Please raise your
12:05 right hand, do you
12:06 . Affirm to tell the truth
12:07 ,the whole truth and nothing
12:09 but the truth in your
12:10 testimony before the council
12:11 members and to respond
12:12 honestly to Council Member
12:13 questions and if begin.
12:18 Good afternoon, sheriff
12:19 Sanchez and members of the
12:19 City Council committee on
12:20 sanitation and solid waste
12:23 management. I'm gregory
12:23 anderson, commissioner of the
12:24 New York City department of
12:25 sanitation, and I am joined by
12:26 jen mcdonnell are deputy
12:27 commissioner for solid waste
12:31 management. The department of
12:32 sanitation has equity baked
12:33 into our functions at the
12:35 deepest structural level
12:36 . In that we provide a free,
12:39 unlimited service to own New
12:41 yorkers, there's no sign up,
12:42 there's no opt in, there's no
12:44 fee for collection or limit on
12:45 how much you can set out. Just
12:48 put your waste at the cur
12:49 bproperly sorted and in a
12:51 container and welcome. Get I
12:53 tand sanitation serves everyone
12:55 without question and is
12:55 committed to fairness
12:58 . We also acknowledge that our
12:59 waste management and export
13:01 system reflects longstanding
13:02 injustices and inequities t
13:05 obegin to correct these. W
13:06 ehave implemented the city's
13:07 landmark 2006 solid waste
13:09 management plan, which called
13:09 for a move away from truck
13:11 export of solid waste from New
13:12 York City to
13:14 . More sustainable and
13:15 equitable rail and barge
13:18 export the facilities and
13:19 system built as a result of
13:21 that plan represent billions
13:23 of dollars in investment, both
13:24 public and private,
13:26 inequitable, sustainable waste
13:28 . Management systems and have
13:28 reduced truck traffic and
13:31 historically overburdened
13:32 communities by hundreds of
13:33 trips per day. We did not stop