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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 424-08
October 27, 2008

MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND CITY COUNCIL EXPAND PUBLIC SPACE RECYCLING AT MINIMAL COST TO TAXPAYERS

33 Additional Locations Receive Outdoor Recycling Bins – Existing Sanitation Resources and Partnerships with Business Improvement Districts Keep Program Cost Low

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn today announced that the City's successful street corner public space recycling program is being expanded to 33 new locations throughout the five boroughs. The expansion comes at minimal cost to city taxpayers through the use of existing Department of Sanitation collection resources and partnerships with 18 Business Improvement Districts. Starting today, a total of 105 new colorful blue and green recycling bins will be positioned around the City so recyclable products will not be deposited in street corner litter baskets. The Public Space Recycling Pilot is part of the City's landmark Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) adopted by the City Council in 2006. The SWMP provides an efficient and environmentally sound method for handling the City's waste for the next 20 years. The announcement took place in City Hall Park, one of the 33 new locations being added to the program. The Mayor and the Speaker were joined by Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Chair Michael McMahon, Council Member Jessica Lappin, and Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty.

"The key to maintaining the City's high quality of life - even during tough times - is learning to do more with less," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Because of careful planning by the Sanitation Department, this expansion of public recycling will have virtually no impact on the City's budget. We're adding 33 new sites to the 10 existing public locations where New Yorkers can recycle newspapers, magazines, and bottles and cans. It's a prime example of how we're continuing to improve New York's quality of life even as City agencies tighten their belts to deal with the current downturn in our economy."

"Whether at home or on the street, New Yorkers want to recycle, and by expanding the Public Space Recycling Program we're giving them even more opportunities to be environmentally responsible," said Speaker Quinn. "This latest expansion continues our commitment to increase and strengthen recycling in all five boroughs and will result in a greener New York City."

"I am thrilled that the City is expanding its public space recycling program," said Council Member Lappin.  "I have been a long time advocate of the program and am pleased to be working with the Administration to expand it. Now, more New Yorkers who want to do the right thing will be able to. So, when you are done with that newspaper or soda, please throw your cans and paper in the appropriate green or blue bins."

The public space recycling program was launched in April 2007 as part of the City's comprehensive 20-year Solid Waste Management Plan. The first bins were placed in major commercial strips, in parks and at large transportation hubs, like the Staten Island Ferry terminals. As part of the program, large blue recycling bins collect metal, glass and plastic containers and green bins accept newspapers, and other paper products that previously had been deposited into the City's 25,000 street corner litter baskets.

"Increasing recycling rates - especially without increasing Sanitation Department collection costs - is one of the ambitious goals in Mayor Bloomberg's Solid Waste Management Plan and I am hopeful that we can continue to find new ways to do more with less as we expand recycling in the future," said Deputy Mayor for Operations Edward Skyler, who is overseeing the waste management plan's implementation. "I would also like to acknowledge the partnership with several key business improvement districts that have supported the DSNY in creating this low-cost recycling program expansion."

"I applaud the Mayor and his Administration for expanding public space recycling and continuing the City's commitment to make recycling a part of every citizens' efforts to improve our environment, keep our city cleaner, and fight global warming," said Councilmember McMahon.

"The placement of these new recycling receptacles throughout the five boroughs continues the City's implementation of the Solid Waste Management Plan as we manage to recycle as much of our waste as possible," said Commissioner Doherty. "Last year, the DSNY collected 1.7 million tons of recyclables - about 16 percent of our residential waste.  With these additions to the Public Space Recycling program, we expect to increase public awareness of the fact that recycling is one way to make our city cleaner, greener and healthier."

The new public space recycling locations are:

Brooklyn

  • McCarren Park
  • Prospect Park (9th Street & Prospect Park and the corner of Ocean & Parkside Avenues)
  • Intersection of 5th Avenue & Bay Ridge Parkway
  • Intersection of Church & Flatbush Avenues
  • Intersection of Adams, Fulton, & Willoughby Streets
  • Intersection of Hasting Street & Oriental Boulevard
  • Intersection of Avenue S & East 32nd Street
  • Intersection of 44th Street & 7th Avenue

Queens

  • Astoria Park
  • Flushing Meadows Park (Paserelle Circle)
  • Intersection of 34th Street & Broadway

Staten Island

  • Wolf’s Pond Park
  • Intersection of Forest & Bement Avenues
  • New Dorp Lane Staten Island Railway station

Bronx

  • New York Botanical Garden
  • Bronx Zoo
  • Intersection of Kingsbridge & Fordham Roads
  • Intersection of 3rd Avenue & East 149th Street
  • Intersection of Broadway & Manhattan College Parkway

Manhattan

  • Outside Whitehall Ferry Terminal
  • City Hall Park
  • Bryant Park
  • Foley Square Park
  • Thomas Paine Park
  • Intersection of 39th Street & 7th Avenue
  • Intersection of East 42nd Street & Lexington Avenue
  • Intersection of Essex & Delancey Streets
  • Intersection of West 125th Street & Lenox Avenue
  • Intersection of West 34th Street & 7th Avenue
  • Intersection of West 42nd Street & 7th Avenue
  • Intersection of Spring & Wooster Streets
  • Intersection of Greenwich & N. Moore Streets
  • Intersection of West 72nd Street & Broadway

The existing public space recycling locations are:

Brooklyn                   

  • Front Street in Brooklyn Heights
  • 1344 Pennsylvania Avenue

Queens                       

  • Hoffman Park
  • Intersection of Main & 38th Streets

Staten Island

  • Clove Lakes Park
  • Staten Island Borough Hall
  • Saint George Ferry Terminal                       

Manhattan

  • Battery Park City 
  • Union Square Park 
  • Inside Whitehall Ferry Terminal 

The Solid Waste Management Plan, which was overwhelmingly adopted by the City Council in 2006 and later approved by the State Department of Environmental Conservation, establishes a cost-effective, reliable and environmentally sound system for managing the City's waste for the next 20 years.  Deputy Mayor Skyler is overseeing the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Plan through a working group that includes the Sanitation Department, Economic Development Corporation, Office of Management and Budget, and Citywide Administrative Services, Law, and Parks Departments. Under the Solid Waste Management Plan, rail cars and barges from marine transfer stations will transport nearly all of the City's residential waste. As a result, Sanitation trucks will travel about 2.7 million fewer miles per year, and travel by tractor-trailer trucks will be reduced by 3 million miles per year.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser/ Marc La Vorgna   (212) 788-2958

Andrew Doba (Council)   (212) 788-7116

Vito Turso (DSNY)   (646) 885-5020




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