New York City Back To Recycling–At Half The Cost
New York City is once again in the glass recycling business. Glass and plastic recycling in the city were suspended in July 2002 because of severe budget cutbacks. Plastic recycling returned in July 2003, but glass recycling was still not affordable.
However, Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty announced in April the restoration of glass recycling and the resumption of weekly recycling collection of metal, glass, plastic and mixed paper throughout the five boroughs. New York City residents must now put glass bottles, jugs and jars in with their metal and plastics.
Starting April 1, New Yorkers were advised to place glass bottles and jars in clear plastic bags or blue labeled containers along with aluminum foil, metal cans, plastic bottles and jugs, beverage cartons and juice boxes.
Mixed paper and cardboard is placed in clear plastic bags or green labeled containers.
The Sanitation Department placed recycling ads and flyers announcing the restoration of glass and the resumption of weekly recycling collection in daily and weekly newspapers, placed posters on collection trucks, and mailed brochures to building managers and owners as well as to residents.
New York City residents have been given a 60 day moratorium from receiving summonses for not recycling glass bottles, jugs, and jars only. Sanitation will continue to issue summonses for mixing metal, plastic, and mixed paper with household refuse or improperly recycling the materials.
“Two years ago the city faced the most severe fiscal crisis in a generation,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “We made the difficult decision to suspend a portion of our recycling program because costs were skyrocketing, and materials that should have been recycled ended up in landfills.” Bloomberg said the city has found a more cost effective and environmentally friendly way to recycle.” When the glass and plastic program was suspended, New York was faced with paying more than $100 per ton for vendors to take the city’s recyclables. The suspension allowed some vendors to reconfigure their operations, increase efficiency and offer the city a considerably better deal on its metal, glass and plastic recyclables.
Now, all metal, plastic and glass recyclables collected by the Sanitation Department will be delivered to the city’s vendor for only $51 per ton, or roughly half of what the city would have paid if the program was not suspended.
Provided by the Environmental News Service.
