Letter from Chairman Colton:

I am pleased to issue the Legislative Commission on Solid Waste Management report Where Will the Garbage Go? for the reporting year 2001. Although the report is now produced in a streamlined format, it continues to provide a comprehensive overview of how municipal solid waste (MSW) is managed in New York State. I trust that you will continue to find it useful.

This year, the Commission has utilized electronic correspondence to collect data, including information which we have requested for the first time. This report presents the historically-collected data on the tonnages of waste managed in New York State. New categories of information collected will be discussed separately in an upcoming Commission publication.

Overall, municipal solid waste management activity in the year 2001 was strongly impacted by changes in New York City’s waste management system. Ending MSW disposal at New York City’s Fresh Kills landfill in March 2001 altered statewide waste management figures substantially. Continuing the trend of the previous four years, increased amounts of MSW were exported, recycling continued its upward trend, and landfilling in the state decreased (primarily due to the closure of Fresh Kills). The continuing trend in MSW export has prompted waste-importing states to pursue federal legislation allowing states to restrict waste import.

In New York City, major changes to the recycling program have created much confusion among City residents. Recently the City re-instated the recycling of plastic containers, after suspending both plastic and glass recycling one year earlier. Fortunately, the reinstatement of plastic recycling has occurred with more favorable contract terms for the City with new contractor Hugo Neu Schnitzer East. The City has also announced that it will re-instate glass collection next year. These are positive aspects for the City’s recycling program.

Unfortunately, the City recently reduced the pickup schedule for recyclables from weekly to bi-weekly, claiming necessary budget reductions required this action. Although the pick-up schedule is slated to return to its previous weekly routine in April 2004, I have opposed these cutbacks over concerns that the irregularity and burden of greater storage of recyclables would lead to confusion, discouragement and, ultimately, declines in participation. I remain hopeful that after weekly pick-ups and glass recycling are resumed, the City’s recycling program can significantly improve and grow, simultaneously creating jobs and reducing MSW, pollution, and energy usage. Success in the City’s program could further spur efficiency and environmental improvements in recycling and waste management activities statewide.

As the Commission’s Chair, the issue of managing waste tires has also been a priority. Earlier this year, the Legislature and the Governor finally agreed on establishing a program to address the longstanding statewide environmental and health problems posed by waste tires. A fund, financed by a fee on new tire sales, was created in the FY 2003-2004 State Budget to clean up dangerous, unhealthy abandoned tire piles and foster markets to recover tires.

Another Commission priority, the regulation of an ever-increasing number of electronic equipment discards, must be addressed. Electronic equipment components contain numerous hazardous materials, including lead and mercury. I believe we must expand reuse, recovery and re-manufacturing options for used electronics to prevent inappropriate disposal activities (including those exploited in export to other countries) and support a promising new category of sustainable industries.

As always, I appreciate your interest in this report and other Commission efforts. I remain open to your suggestions regarding our work to continually improve waste management in this State. Please contact the Commission with your comments and ideas.