Legislation plan to make over Local Law 19.

While Earth Day has come and gone, law-makers in New York City are not letting go so quickly. On April 12, 2010, New York City’s Council speaker Christine Quinn, announced an expanded version of Local Law 19. Originally passed in 1989, Local Law 19 mandated the collection of recyclables from every residential building in the city. Within ten years of its initial enactment, the City of New York increased its residential recycling rate from less than one percent to more that twenty percent.

“We’re incredibly excited to be introducing a package of bills that will dramatically expand and overhaul the way we recycle here in New York City. Our legislation will divert over 8,000 tons of plastic every year away from landfills and incinerators. That’s equal to the amount of trash produced by nearly 10,000 people each year,” says Quinn.

The upgrade to the program would include expanded plastic recycling. The new legislation would require the Department of Sanitation to recycle all rigid plastic containers. The City expects this to divert more than 8,000 tons of plastic each year from landfills and incinerators. This would take place after the opening of a new recycling facility in Brooklyn, which is scheduled to open in 2012. In addition, of the 300 recycling bins already located in public spaces around the city, an extra 300 will be place over the next three years and a total of 700 bins within the next ten years.

The legislation would also mandate at least one department-sponsored household hazardous waste collection event in each borough every year. The legislation would also create a citywide textile collection program and a paint-recycling program. This would mean that retailers would take back unwanted household paint, which makes up about 50 percent of household hazardous waste.

In addition, the legislation would aim to change existing programs as well. It would require every school to designate a recycling coordinator and provide recycling receptacles in each classroom, also, they would extend the collection period from March 1st to November 30th.

“As chair of the Sanitation Committee, I wholeheartedly support these improvements to Local Law 19, the city’s comprehensive residential recycling law,” says James. “Revisions to the law that especially appeal to me include the expanded public space recycling initiative that would more than double the 300 bins in place, and require DOS to site a total of 700 public space recycling bins. I also support improved recycling at city and non-DOE Schools. This plan involves each school designating a recycling coordinator to place and manage receptacles around schools, specifically in classrooms and at entrances and exits of lunchrooms. The residential recycling law adds logical upgrades to the City’s current recycling efforts.”



Information taken from-
http://www.recyclingtoday.com/new-york-city-expanding-recycling-laws.aspx
Photo’s taken from
- http://www.inhabitat.com/