Dive Brief:
- The Citizens Budget Commission released the results of a survey it conducted detailing the most expensive trash collections in the US.
- According to the study, New York City curbside pick-up ranks the highest, coming in at $251 per ton. Arlington, Texas was named the least expensive place for waste removal, costing $7 per ton in 2009.
- The New York Post reports the survey found that the average cost of recycling pick-up across the five boroughs is $629 per ton.
Dive Insight:
The commission reports that NYC spends $1.6 billion annually to take care of 3.8 million tons of waste. Also noted in the survey was compensation for sanitation workers, whose average salary in 2012 was $88,870.
Going forward, some NYC waste will be hitting the rails, as the High Acres landfill in Wayne County, NY prepares to accept city trash via train transport. The use of train transportation is intended to lower costs and emissions.
