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By Ushma Pandya Mehta
Across the globe, cities are taking aggressive action to support reduction in trash to landfill, with important implications for businesses and residents.
Since the term Zero Waste came into circulation a few decades ago, cities globally are adopting “zero waste goals.” Zero Waste is a philosophy that encourages the design of resources so that all products are reused and nothing is sent to landfill or incineration. New York City, for example, has announced a goal of 90 percent diversion from landfill by the year 2030 in its One New York or OneNYC plan. Other cities with zero waste goals include San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle and Dallas.
Spotlight on New York City
Historically, New York City sends approximately 3.6 million tons (7.2 billion pounds) to landfill and incineration each year from residential and commercial buildings. The OneNYC plan targets diverting more than 3 million tons from landfill by 2030.
Currently, New York City has no landfills or incinerators of its own, and either ships, rails, or drives its trash to surrounding states, costing more than $350 million a year and rising. There are economic and environmental costs to the disposal of the city’s trash, and Zero Waste goals ensure that the city can continue to support a vibrant residential and business environment.
As part of its Zero Waste goals, New York City is implementing eight specific initiatives. One initiative specifically focuses on the businesses that operate within the city, calling for a 90 percent diversion rate for commercial waste. To achieve this goal, the Department of Sanitation NY (DSNY) implemented two rules in 2016 that require businesses to:
What businesses need to do to support Zero Waste goals
In order to achieve New York City's ambitious goals, businesses and commercial building owners / property managers will need to do the following:
Ushma Pandya Mehta is Partner, Think Zero. You can follow her on Instagram at ditchthewaste.
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