Res No. 707
Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.07159, which amends New York State's Environmental Conservation Law in relation to electronic equipment disposal in a city having a population of one million or more.
By Council Members Koslowitz, Ulrich, Cohen, Gentile, Johnson, Koo, Mendez and Rose
Whereas, According to New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) about 3.8 million tons of residential and institutional waste are collected annually; and
Whereas, According to the 2015 OneNYC report, the City plans to send zero waste to landfills by 2030; and
Whereas, According to DSNY electronic waste comprises approximately 1% or 38,000 tons of the City's residential waste stream; and
Whereas, According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, electronic waste can be diverted from the waste stream and reused or recycled; and
Whereas, New York State's Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act, effective since May 28, 2010, requires manufacturers to provide free and convenient recycling of electronic waste to consumers in the state; and
Whereas, New York State's Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act states that, on and after January 1, 2015, no individual or household may place or dispose of electronic waste for collection intended for disposal at a solid waste facility; and
Whereas, On January 1, 2015, DSNY stopped collecting curbside electronic waste; and
Whereas, A DSNY rule - section 1-04.2 of chapter 1 of title 16 of the Rules of the City of New York, entitled Disposal of Electronic Waste - took effect on March 20, 2015 and makes it a violation, carrying a $100 civil penalty, for any person to place electronic waste outside for solid waste or recycling collection; and
Whereas, DSNY currently partners with Electronic Recyclers International, which collects electronic waste from buildings with 10 or more units-approximately 41,000 buildings- that request their collection services in a program called e-cycleNYC; and
Whereas, Since the program began in 2013, more than 4,000 buildings have signed up to participate in the e-cycleNYC program; and
Whereas, After January 1, 2015, pursuant to the Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act, consumers can no longer place their e-waste curbside and those who are not in buildings participating in e-cycleNYC have the option to mail back their electronic waste, bring their electronic waste to a designated drop-off location, bring their electronic waste to a SAFE Disposal Event or a Lower East Side Ecology Center e-waste event, or donate or sell working electronics on NYC Stuff Exchange; and
Whereas, There are over 230,000 buildings in the City with less than 10 units that are not eligible to participate in the e-cycleNYC program; and
Whereas, There are consumers in such buildings who are not able to use any of the other options currently available for e-waste disposal in a manner that is convenient to them; and
Whereas, The City wants to create more options for curbside collection of e-waste that are convenient to consumers; and
Whereas, State Assembly Bill A.07159 states that any person in a city having a population of one million or more residing in a building with less than 11 residences that does not have a pick-up designation shall be able to contact the department of sanitation of such city and schedule an appointment for removal of electronic equipment for recycling; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.07159, which amends New York State's Environmental Conservation Law in relation to electronic equipment disposal in a city having a population of one million or more.
RTH
LS# 4379
5/13/15 5:22PM