As a result of the Waste Prevention forum, "Damming the Waste Stream", held December 1999, a growing consortium of organizations and individuals has become organized for the purpose of advocating that the government undertake specific waste prevention activities in New York City.  The Manhattan Citizens' Solid Waste Advisory Board's (MCSWAB) Waste Prevention Committee was a charter member of this Coalition and is represented on its Steering Committee by Maggie Clarke and Frieda Bradlow. 

As of 2002, the Coalition's officers are as follows:

•     Co-Chairs:  Maggie Clarke and Mary Ellen Etienne
•     Corresponding Secretary:  Jenny Eisenberg
•     Recording Secretary:  Shannon Stone
•     At Large:    Frieda Bradlow, Resa Dimino, Timothy Logan

Since spring 2000 the Coalition (consisting of 40 organizations as of September, 2000) has

1. produced a set of detailed budget recommendations over a five year period for a number of waste prevention initiatives (residential, institutional, commercial, composting, and measurement/research) (see below for documents)
2. testified at the City Council in support of these budget proposals
3. lobbied the City Council to provide funding for these budget proposals.  One result of these meetings with Council was to convey the gravity and diversity of solid waste issues faced by the City.  As of early 2002, the new Council speaker, one of those we lobbied, established a new Sanitation Committee for the City Council.
4. lobbied the City Council to include the five year plan in the City's Solid Waste Management Plan Modification for 2000.  One result of this was that the City Council and Administration agreed to establish a 3-year, $6.2 million program of waste prevention and recycling coordinators for the residential sector, Board of Education, and Housing Authority.  The Council and Administration also agreed to hire two environmental procurement officers at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services.
5. worked with City Council to improve Intro 482 on Environmental Procurement and Agency Waste Prevention Practices.  As of early 2002, Intro 482 has been reintroduced.

Statement of Purpose.

The New York City Waste Prevention Coalition is a network of organizations and individuals dedicated to promoting waste prevention as the most responsible, environmentally sound and cost-effective means to solve New York City's mounting solid waste problems. ("Waste Prevention" is defined as the reduction in the weight/volume and/or toxicity of the materials that are generated for disposal or recycling. The means for preventing waste include reduction at the source through improved product and packaging design, consumer education, product reuse, repair & remanufacturing, financial incentives and legislation.)

Mission Statement:

Our mission is to promote waste prevention in NYC as the primary alternative to wasting both resources and money, and as a public health measure to protect communities from the impacts of solid waste collection, processing, transport and disposal, e.g., landfilling & incineration).

Our mission is carried out through these activities:

• Raising public awareness through outreach & education
• Conducting research and analysis of solid waste problems and waste prevention solutions
• Advocating sound public policy that advances waste prevention at the city, state and federal levels as appropriate.

Waste Prevention Coalition Backgrounder & Position paper
NYC Waste Prevention Coalition Bylaws

Current List of Member Organizations and Businesses

Intro 509 of 1995 >> Intro 482 of 1998 >>>  Intro 29 of 2002

Since 1993 members of the MCSWAB Waste Prevention committee and others deliberated provisions of environmental procurement legislation and subsequently agency waste prevention practices legislation.  First there was Intro 509 of 1995.  Then there was Intro 482 of 1998 (see below).  The current bill, Intro 29 of 2002 was reintroduced as the first bill of the brand new City Council's Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste in January, 2002.  As of February 2003, it has not had a hearing!   There have been discussions with Council staff (see our recommendations) and there is hope for movement in 2003.  

Please express your support!   Please spread the word.

Letters of support and/or written testimony should be sent to Councilmember Michael McMahon c/o Carmen Cognetta, 250 Broadway, New York, NY   10007, with a copy to the Waste Prevention Committee. 

On December 11, 1998 Councilmembers Michels and Freed of the New York City Council introduced Intro 482, City Agency Environmental Procurement and Waste Prevention Practices legislation, co-authored by the Waste Prevention Committee. Committee Counsel took further recommendations to strengthen the bill from us and others during summer 2000.  Intro 482a was prepared, and it is expected that Council will hold another hearing on this bill in Fall 2000. A 482 Fact Sheet is available.

Waste Prevention Coalition Testimony and Recommendations