NSWMA Applauds City Council's Passage of Cardboard Theft Bill

NYC City Council Votes to Protect Recycled Materials from Scavenging

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2013  Today, the New York City Council approved Int. 889-A, a local law that would amend the administrative code of the city of New York, making it unlawful to remove or accept certain recyclable material. The National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) applauded the bill that will increase the penalties against unlicensed carters and others who remove cardboard and other recyclables from licensed carters' customers. 

Intro 889A, which was approved along with other environmental legislation, is expected to reduce losses suffered by both licensed carters and the Department of Sanitation.  Licensed carters primarily collect recyclables from commercial customers while DSNY primarily collects recyclables from residential customers. The legislation was sponsored by Council Members James, Williams, Dromm, Koo, Koppell, Mendez, Lappin, Gentile, Levin, Gennaro and Halloran.

NSWMA championed this legislation. This effort is in addition to NSWMA's work with New York City officials to investigate specific cardboard theft incidents. NSWMA testified at a New York City Council hearing in June 2012 in support of this legislation and has been lobbying City officials to finalize the bill for more than a year.

NSWMA General Counsel David Biderman stated, "NSWMA and its members are very pleased the City Council has passed Intro 889A. NSWMA members in New York City are losing $8-10 million per year due to cardboard theft."  Biderman added that cardboard theft occurs daily in New York City, noting an NSWMA member hired a private investigator last month to observe cardboard theft on one of his routes. NSWMA has provided information to City agencies for years about cardboard theft.

Tom Toscano, NSWMA New York City Chapter Chair, and the Chief Financial Officer at Mr. T Carting, added, "The daily theft of cardboard hurts our entire industry, from small family-owned hauling operators to larger firms who lose the revenue, and their customers that feel the loss in greater fees. We hope that the City rigorously enforces this law against the illegal carters who operate in the City." 

The law will take effect after Mayor Michael Bloomberg signs the bill. Supporters of the bill expect the Mayor to sign the bill.

NSWMA – a sub-association of the Environmental Industry Associations – represents for-profit companies in North America that provide solid waste collection, recycling and disposal services, healthcare waste management, or provide professional and consulting services to the waste services industry. NSWMA members conduct business in all 50 states.

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SOURCE National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA)