As discussed in my previous post, Materials for the Arts, held their Third Thursday Earth Month celebration a few weeks ago at their sprawling non-profit art supply complex in Queens, New York. It was an exciting event for those who love to learn about waste and resource management issues. Nelson Molina, former DSNY worker, and NYU professor and author Robin Nagle held a Q&A after a screening of a short film on Mr. Molina's mongo museum in East Harlem, filled with 20 years worth of New Yorker's discards moonlighting as treasures.
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Jacquie Ottman speaking at Materials for the Arts in Queens (4/21/16)
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Jacquie Ottman, founder of WeHateToWaste.com, presented on the state of waste in New York City, with a focus on the 8 Zero Waste initiatives under Mayor Bill de Blasio's OneNYC sustainability plan. According to Ms. Ottman, 74% of NYC's waste can be recycled or composted but currently isn't. Hopefully the 8 initiatives, as outlined below, will help NYC reach our "0x30" ("zero by thirty") landfill diversion goal. The "zero" of zero waste is a bit of a misnomer. Most zero waste advocates measure zero waste as a 90% diversion from landfill. Will we get there by 2030, or optimistically, can we get there sooner?
NYC's 8 Zero Waste Initiatives:
- Organics collection for all NYers by 2018
- Single stream recycling by 2020
- Reduce use of plastic bags (including polystyrene) and non-compostables
- Expand recycling to NYCHA
- Make all schools zero waste
- Expand reuse and recycle of textiles and electronics
- 'Save as you throw'
- Reduce commercial waste disposal 90% by 2050 (recycle at work what we recycle at home)
