File #: Res 1388-2008    Version: * Name: DOE and the Dept of Sanitation to immediately implement school recycling programs in all NYC public and private schools.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management
On agenda: 4/30/2008
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution urging the Department of Education and the Department of Sanitation to immediately implement school recycling programs in all New York City public and private schools.
Sponsors: Bill De Blasio, Robert Jackson, Gale A. Brewer, Simcha Felder, Lewis A. Fidler, James F. Gennaro, Letitia James, G. Oliver Koppell, John C. Liu, Darlene Mealy, Annabel Palma, Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., Helen Sears, Albert Vann, Peter F. Vallone, Jr., Melinda R. Katz
Council Member Sponsors: 16
Attachments: 1. Committee Report 6/3/08, 2. Hearing Testimony 6/3/08, 3. Hearing Transcript 6/3/08
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
12/31/2009*Bill De Blasio City Council Filed (End of Session)  Action details Meeting details Not available
6/3/2008*Bill De Blasio Committee on Education Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
6/3/2008*Bill De Blasio Committee on Education Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
6/3/2008*Bill De Blasio Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
6/3/2008*Bill De Blasio Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/30/2008*Bill De Blasio City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/30/2008*Bill De Blasio City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/30/2008*Bill De Blasio City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Res. No. 1388

 

Resolution urging the Department of Education and the Department of Sanitation to immediately implement school recycling programs in all New York City public and private schools.

 

By Council Members de Blasio, Jackson, Brewer, Felder, Fidler, Gennaro, James, Koppell, Liu, Mealy, Palma, Recchia Jr., Sears, Vann, Vallone Jr. and Katz

 

Whereas, New York City Schools have a central role to play in promoting recycling and in recycling material at schools; and

Whereas, It is essential that we recycle if we are to lower our consumption of raw materials, reduce our carbon footprint, and ultimately protect and conserve our environment; and

Whereas, New York State Law requires that all municipalities establish recycling programs and the New York City Administrative Code requires that all City agencies recycle; and

Whereas, Waste reduction and recycling are critical elements of a well-rounded education that incorporates good social and environmental behaviors; and

Whereas, During September 2007, Richard P. Mills, the New York State  Commissioner of Education and President of the State University of New York sent a message to every Superintendent of Public Schools and every District Superintendent of Schools encouraging all schools to establish or expand waste reduction and recycling programs and offering assistance to do so; and

                      Whereas, The majority of non-cafeteria waste in schools consists of paper, cardboard, metal, glass or plastic, all materials that are collected by the Department of Sanitation for recycling; and

Whereas, A large number of public and private schools in the City of New York do not have recycling programs or are only marginally recycling; and

Whereas, Numerous educators have attempted to institute recycling programs, only to be met with avoidable obstacles, including: (i) a lack of coordination with the Department of Sanitation, making it difficult to schedule pick-up dates; (ii) a lack of appropriate equipment such as bins and carts; (iii) a lack of system and space for sorting and otherwise preparing recyclables for collection; and

Whereas, If every school in the City of New York implemented effective recycling programs it would increase the City’s recycling rate and save valuable natural resources; and

Whereas, Putting in place school recycling programs would contribute to the success of the City’s Twenty year Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP), which failed to meet its 2007 25% waste diversion goal by over 8%; and

Whereas, While recycling in schools is a requirement under Regulation of the Chancellor A-850 and an important part of achieving compliance with Local Law 9, which requires City-wide recycling, this important practice continues to be largely disregarded; and

Whereas, Implementing an effective recycling program in every school would educate students and encourage them to engage in recycling in their homes, which would ultimately raise residential recycling rates; now therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York urges the Department of Education and the Department of Sanitation, to immediately implement school recycling programs in all New York City public and private schools.

CJC-2/19/08

LS # 4489