Blue and Green Recycling Bins Bloom Across New York City

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced the expansion of the city's street corner public space recycling program in front of the fountain in City Hall Park, one of the 33 new locations where the blue and green bins are being placed.

The mayor said this expansion from the 10 existing green and blue bin locations comes at minimal cost to city taxpayers through the wise use of Department of Sanitation collection resources and partnerships with 18 Business Improvement Districts.

"The key to maintaining the city's high quality of life - even during tough times - is learning to do more with less," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Because of careful planning by the Sanitation Department, this expansion of public recycling will have virtually no impact on the city's budget."

"It's a prime example of how we're continuing to improve New York's quality of life even as city agencies tighten their belts to deal with the current downturn in our economy," he said.

"Whether at home or on the street, New Yorkers want to recycle, and by expanding the Public Space Recycling Program we're giving them even more opportunities to be environmentally responsible," said Quinn.

From left, Council Member Michael McMahon, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Council Member Jessica Lapin, and Speaker Christine Quinn place the first can in a new recycling bin in City Hall Park. (Photo by Spencer Tucker courtesy Office of the Mayor)

The public space recycling program was launched in April 2007. The first bins were placed in major commercial strips, in parks and at large transportation hubs, like the Staten Island Ferry terminals.

As part of the program, large blue recycling bins collect metal, glass and plastic containers and green bins accept newspapers, and other paper products that previously had been thrown into the city's 25,000 street corner litter baskets.

The mayor and the speaker were joined by Council Member Michael McMahon, chair of the Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Committee, who said the city is committed to "making recycling a part of every citizens' efforts to improve our environment, keep our city cleaner, and fight global warming."

Council Member Jessica Lappin said, "I have been a long time advocate of the program and am pleased to be working with the administration to expand it. Now, more New Yorkers who want to do the right thing will be able to. So, when you are done with that newspaper or soda, please throw your cans and paper in the appropriate green or blue bins."

The Public Space Recycling Pilot is part of the city's Solid Waste Management Plan adopted by the City Council in 2006. The plan is intended to provide an efficient and environmentally sound method for handling the city's waste for the next 20 years.

Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty said, "Last year, the DSNY collected 1.7 million tons of recyclables - about 16 percent of our residential waste. With these additions to the Public Space Recycling program, we expect to increase public awareness of the fact that recycling is one way to make our city cleaner, greener and healthier."

The new bins will be showing up in 14 Manhattan locations including Bryant Park, and some of the city's most heavily traveled intersections from Essex and Delancy streets to to 125th and Lenox Ave, and from 42nd and Lexington outside Grand Central Station to 42nd and 7th Ave in Times Square, and outside the Whitehall Ferry Terminal.

Brooklyn will have eight locations including McCarren Park and Prospect Park; and in the Bronx, there will be five locations including the New York Botannical Garden and the Bronx Zoo.

Queens will receive bins in three locations including Astoria Park; and Staten Island also has three locations, including Wolf's Pond Park.

Deputy Mayor for Operations Ed Skyler, who is overseeing the waste management plan's implementation, acknowledged the city's partnership with key business improvement districts that have supported the Sanitation Department in creating the low-cost recycling program expansion.

"Increasing recycling rates, especially without increasing Sanitation Department collection costs, is one of the ambitious goals in Mayor Bloomberg's Solid Waste Management Plan," said Skyler, "and I am hopeful that we can continue to find new ways to do more with less as we expand recycling in the future."

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved.