Dive Brief:

• A hearing was held in New York City regarding Intro 495, a bill designed to shrink the capacity of transfer stations in particular neighborhoods in an effort to reduce trash-truck traffic.
• The National Waste & Recycling Association (NW&RA) joined local organizations to voice their opposition to the bill, which was introduced in October of 2014. 
• The group testified that the bill would lead to loss of employment, more traffic, and high costs for businesses in the area.

Dive Insight:

Chris Kickey, the regional director for the New York City Chapter of the New York State Restaurant Association, said: “While it seems that this bill has good intentions, it amplifies the problem it seeks to solve. This law simply moves garbage from one place to another, which will only exacerbate the problem and cause the loss of jobs in the process.” 

A similar bill was introduced in 2013, but Mayor Bloomberg vowed to veto it, and it never came to fruition.