In 2015 as part of One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the city’s ambitious goal of sending zero waste to landfills by 2030. Every week, the average New Yorker throws out nearly 15 pounds of waste at home and another nine pounds of waste at work and in commercial establishments. Altogether, in New York City this adds up to more than three million tons of residential waste and three million tons of commercial waste generated per year. To achieve its zero waste goals, the city must take fresh approaches to waste reduction, materials reuse, and recycling. These include developing a citywide organics collection program, reducing the use of plastic bags and other non-recyclable waste, and working with schools and public housing developments.

The city’s zero waste initiatives build upon the nearly-completed 2006 Solid Waste Management Plan, a fair, five-borough plan to handle New York City’s waste and offer flexibility and resiliency in the case of a natural disaster or other emergency. The SWMP mandates a switch from long-haul trucking to a system of marine and rail transfer stations spread throughout the five boroughs. Full implementation of the plan is anticipated to reduce the City’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by 34,000 tons and annual truck travel by 60 million miles.

To kick off Getting to Zero, Open House New York’s year-long series on the future of New York City’s waste system, Kathryn Garcia, Commissioner, NYC Department of Sanitation, will outline the steps the city has already taken to achieve these goals, the opportunities and challenges we will face over the next few years, and innovative practices that have the potential to transform the waste management industry.

Tickets are non-refundable. Should you not be able to attend, the full price of unused tickets may be treated as a donation to Open House New York and is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Please note: The SVA Theatre is ADA compliant and provides assisted listening devices for the hearing impaired. For more information, please contact Ben Pardee at info@ohny.org or at 212-991-6470 at least 72 hours before the event.