Litter and Trash Resources – New York

I have had many emails from people asking where I got my information on Litter Costs in NY. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find NY Information- So I’ve gathered together some links and resources that those who are interested, writing papers and wanna be activists to refer to. (This time with links) Quite honestly, with all the trash and garbage in NY, I am surprised about how little information is available as well as the lack of updated ink and publicity about NY Trash. It is almost like they stopped talking about trash in 2004!

• In New York City alone, one less grocery bag per person per year would reduce waste by 109 tons and save $11,000 in disposal costs.
• 1998, the people in New York threw away 29.7 million tons of trash. That’s 3,258 pounds per person or 9 pounds per person per day. 
• An average New York Times Sunday edition produces 8 million pounds (3.6 million kilograms) of waste paper
• New York Biggest Export- Paper
• Residental Garbage produced by NYC= 12,000 Tons per day

Lets Pick It Up New York– New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Every Block- New York City– Listing of Complaint type and location in NYC

Garbager- New Site with Garbage picture of NY

Last Nights Garbage– Garbage pictures of NY Neighborhoods

Gotham Gazette- …..According to a report from New Yorkers for Parks, litter was found on 42 percent of city shorelines and broken glass was retrieved on 53 percent of city beaches in 2007. “The largest problem is always the maintenance issue,” said Sheelah Feinberg, director of government and external relations for the advocacy group. “That’s parks citywide.”…………….When originally published, this article incorrectly stated 14 billion gallons of untreated sewage is dumped in our waterways annually. That figure is actually 27 billion gallons of untreated raw sewage and stormwater runoff.

Gothamist– Do New Yorkers Use 3 Billion Plastic Bags per Year

New York Post– 2008-A million New Year’s revelers trashed Times Square with at least 42 tons of party hats, noisemakers and confetti, which an army of city sanitation workers beautifully swept up yesterday. Armed with brooms, 16 mechanical sweepers, 13 collection trucks and 14 leaf blowers, 109 of New York’s Strongest took to the streets to do the heavy lifting. Last year’s New Year’s cleanup cost $37,216 to pick up 42 tons of garbage.

NY Times– Audit Finds Waste in Vacant Lot Cleanup- Talk about waste of Taxpayer money

Bottle Bill Resource Guide– (Syracuse) Wright can only daydream about the freedom it would give him in deploying his crews, since 12 to 15 city workers now spend each day bagging litter, much of it plastic bottles

TreeHugger- How Green is NY City

Recycling Programs

Monroe County- Cash For Trash Program

Litter Hotlines- New York

• Rome Clean and Green (online Form) 315-336-3950
• Keep Rockland Beautiful Litter Hotline (845) 708-9164