We Deserve Healthy Communities

New York City creates over 23 million tons of trash, compost, and sewage each year. That's a lot of waste, and taking care of it responsibly requires a strong plan that considers public health, recycling efforts, and creative ways to reuse anything that's still good. That's where the Solid Waste Management Plan comes in.

The plan will guide programs and strategies that can lead the city into the next era of waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and resource recovery as well as organic management. And the city wants to hear from you about how to shape it.

This ...

New York City creates over 23 million tons of trash, compost, and sewage each year. That's a lot of waste, and taking care of it responsibly requires a strong plan that considers public health, recycling efforts, and creative ways to reuse anything that's still good. That's where the Solid Waste Management Plan comes in.

The plan will guide programs and strategies that can lead the city into the next era of waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and resource recovery as well as organic management. And the city wants to hear from you about how to shape it.

This plan is key for the city’s decision making about what to do with our trash over the next 10 years and will shape priorities across all areas of waste.

Your voice helps ensure it’s as strong, equitable, and ambitious as possible.

Share with DSNY the most critical points missing from the plan and applauding where they’ve gotten it right. Join us in speaking up for a cleaner, fairer, zero-waste future for New York City!

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NYCDEP: We Need a Stronger Plan

New York City is deciding on a plan right now that will determine how it'll handle our trash, compost, and sewage for the next ten years. They need to hear from you to make the plan stronger. Email the Department of Environmental Protection right now and tell them how they can improve the plan.

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Dear Commissioner Javier Lojan, Deputy Commissioner for Solid Waste Management Jennifer McDonnell, and Director of Resource Recovery Katherine Kitchener:

I'm writing as an Environmental Advocates NY supporter to urge you to include the following agency strategies in the Draft 2026 NYC Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP):

* Strategy 1: DSNY and the Mayor's Office for Food Policy will monitor and advocate for New York State food waste prevention policy, beginning with the regulation of food date labels.
* Strategy 2: DSNY will work with food  banks and pantries to expand efforts to capture edible food for food-insecure New Yorkers and provide resources and education to encourage residents and businesses to waste less food.
* Strategy 3: DSNY, in partnership with relevant agencies, will advocate for local and state legislation that facilitates the donation of edible, unsold and excess food annually to programs serving food-insecure New York City residents.
* Strategy 4: DSNY will monitor and advocate for New York State legislation that establishes consumers' right to reduce single use packaging for food and beverages, in addition to state extended producer responsibility legislation that addresses key waste, health and environmental issues.
* Strategy 5: DSNY will divert biosolids (sewage sludge) from land application programs and explore infrastructure and technology that can limit the leachate and emissions of sludge in landfills.

New York City must be a key player in meeting our Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) goals, and addressing the waste crisis facing New York State at large. With over 23 million tons of waste produced in the city each year, New Yorkers need a solid waste management plan that ensures waste is reduced, food is nutritious and accessible, and community members are engaged.

Please include these strategies in the NYC SWMP and help lead New York toward a cleaner and healthier future.

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