NYC delays commercial waste zone implementation

The implementation of New York City’s Commercial Waste Zones bill (Intro 1574), which was passed into law last October, has been delayed by at least a month in light of the impacts of COVID-19. According to Politico, more than 100 New York Department of Sanitation (DSNY) workers have contracted the novel coronavirus, and the economic halt to some of the city’s biggest industries is putting the squeeze on private waste haulers.

The bill would divide the city into roughly 20 commercial waste zones, each served by up to three private haulers. Under the legislation, private carters will need to meet baseline standards to be eligible for a zone, and their proposals will be judged based on their plans to improve safety, recycling, pollution and job quality.

The de Blasio administration made the announcement March 26, and DSNY Commissioner Kathryn Garcia wrote a letter stating that important steps to putting the system into motion, including the publication of new rules and the launch of a competitive solicitation process, are being pushed back.

“It is now inevitable that the schedule be delayed as a result of the state of emergency that has consumed our city and the economic disruptions that have affected this industry,” Garcia writes. “At this time, we are delaying our implementation schedule by at least one month. We will provide another update in April, once we have a better understanding of the implications of this crisis on our city and on this industry.”

Despite the delay, the department remains “fully committed” to implementing the new model, the letter reads.