Under the IGND, the City will implement steps to reduce emissions from waste and food systems. At the front end of the process, the City plans to implement a curbside food scraps collection program and increase producer accountability for disposal of their products. At the end of the waste stream, the city has committed to employ innovative technology to harness gas emissions at the landfill and use them to produce alternative fuels like hydrogen.
The City has committed to implement a program of extended producer responsibility (EPR) to reduce plastic and electronic waste. EPR establishes manufacturer/distributor accountability for product and/or packaging waste. A current example of extended producer accountability is the New York State requirement that certain beverage producers must offer container rebates and bear the cost of recycling these containers.
Removing food scraps from landfills reduces and/or eliminates the methane gas they produce when in the waste stream. Methane is a potent and dangerous greenhouse gas.
What criteria are we using to measure progress?
