
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has signed a package of recycling bills that update the city’s recycling laws and program. The new legislation expands the city’s 21-year-old recycling program, according to a news release posted to the city’s website (www.nyc.gov).
The initiatives include increasing fines for multi-unit structures that don’t comply with the recycling program; potentially expanding the city’s collection of recyclable plastic; introducing a clothing and textile recycling program; and expanding New York City’s public space recycling efforts.
Regarding plastic, a portion of the bill states, “Prior to the opening of the recycling processing facility at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, the Sanitation Commissioner will expand the designation of recyclable plastics to include rigid plastic containers, provided that the Commissioner will not be required to expand this designation if he or she determines that the cost of doing so is not reasonable as compared to the cost of the current program.”
“I applaud the mayor for signing this package of bills that will dramatically expand and overhaul the way we recycle here in New York City,” says New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. “Our legislation will divert over 8,000 tons of plastic every year away from landfills and incinerators.”
“The city’s comprehensive residential recycling law provides a recycling infrastructure separate from home collection,” adds says Letitia James, the city’s sanitation commissioner. “Upgrades to Local Law 19 include an expanded public space recycling initiative, which would require the Department of Sanitation to site a total of 700 public space recycling bins. These revisions promote a culture of recycling in New York City by making it available and convenient for both residents [and] visitors.”
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