NYC Recycling Workers Protest Cuts in Budget

The members of the Recycling & General Industrial Laborers Local 108 in New York City have joined with environmentalists and public interest groups in demanding that the city of New York maintain its recycling program.

The protests come after Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced plans to temporarily halt the city's recyclables collection program due to budget cuts.

"The Mayor has called for an eighteen month suspension of the program," said Mike Hellstrom, business manager of Local 108. "An 18 month suspension is in fact a permanent end to the program. It takes years for the public to develop an understanding of the "recycling culture". Suspending the program for 18 months will take us back to where we were 13 years ago, prior to the passage of the Mandatory Recycling Law of 1989. Not only will our environment suffer, but over 1,000 hard working New Yorkers will see their jobs disappear."

"It is shortsighted for the Mayor to think that he can save money by eliminating 1,000 low paying, "living wage" jobs. If these people lose their jobs, they will be removed from the tax roles, and in many cases will need to turn to public assistance. Whatever savings as realized with the suspension of the program will be eaten up by new costs, and lost taxes. It is extremely shortsighted," said Hellstrom.

Laborers Local 108 represents over 2,000 members in the recycling and waste handling industry, covering New York City, and the surrounding counties.