New York City Residential Solid Waste Policy: Assessing Proposed Alternatives

This book presents a thorough analysis of the state of New York City's residential solid waste policy from 2003. New York City ceased disposing of its daily residential solid waste output within its municipal borders in March 2001 when the city completed its phase-down of the Fresh Kills landfill. The closure of this facility has, for the first time in history, stripped New York City of its waste management self-sufficiency, created a situation in which municipal officials are reliant on private firms and other governmental jurisdictions for disposal services, and contributed to deteriorating fiscal, environmental, political, economic, social and practical conditions. This book judges a multitude of alternative plans put forward according to set technical criteria and identifies the best option for moving forward. The conclusion couples this recommendation with an effective waste-reduction scheme and analyzes the combined proposition within the context of New York City's political climate. This assessment provides those interested in urban environmental policy issues with a thorough review of a particularly vexing problem facing the nation's most populous city.