Redesigning an affordable organic waste system for NYC to improve public space, health and equity
New York City’s Mayor de Blasio just committed to a green recovery that prioritizes equity, fairness, and the climate crisis. Composting, which creates green jobs, supports local food production, and increases environmental equity, should fit squarely within this mission. Yet, in this year’s crisis budget, the city cut all funding for organic waste collection. Organic waste costs the Department...
Vacuum waste: A tech whose time has finally come
SideWalkTalk article on Medium While vacuum waste collection is still rare compared to curbside pickup, its adoption may be on the rise. Norway’s second-largest city, Bergen, is installing one of the world’s largest vacuum waste systems, with nearly 5 miles of underground pipe. In 2018, Singapore changed its development requirements so any project of 500 apartments or more must...
EXCLUSIVE: City Takes Major Steps to Get Garbage off the Sidewalk
Streetsblog March 11 post “City pedestrians navigate around piles of trash and recycling that take up significant sidewalk space,” Garcia said. “It is time to make smarter, more efficient choices when it comes to the way New Yorkers set out refuse and recycling for collection in the public right of way. Thursday’s announcement is the...
Build less. For more people. Design Circular.
Clare Miflin’s article in the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment Newsletter is inspired by Michael Pollan’s seven word maxim for healthy eating: Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly Plants. Build less: reuse and repurpose existing buildings; right-size the building; consider sharing spaces within a district. For more people: design and program a building so that most...
Maximizing the Benefits of Commercial Waste Policy
Benjamin Miller’s in depth article in Environmental Law in New York explains how the design of the commercial waste zoning system can be crafted to maximize benefits for the environment, businesses and haulers...
Designing for Zero Waste Districts
District-scale solutions are often the most effective way of achieving zero waste and improving the quality of the public realm. In this session the team that led the development of the Zero Waste Design Guidelines share best practice strategies and case studies for waste management from e-waste to food waste. Learn the multiple benefits from...