Reaching for Zero:
A The Citizens Plan for Zero Waste in New York City
By Resa Dimino and Barbara Warren
New York City Zero Waste Campaign
and Consumer Policy Institute / Consumers Union June 2004
available in pdf format

This report and the campaign for Zero Waste would not have been possible without the efforts of many people who have worked to improve solid waste management policy in New York City over many years. The current effort involved many individuals and organizations who participated in campaign meetings over the course of eight months and contributed valuable ideas and insights to produce this Citizens Plan for Zero Waste in New York City. We would particularly like to thank the Natural Resources Defense Council for providing meeting space for the campaign. We are grateful for the assistance of Shannon Stone, who served as secretary. Sincere appreciation goes to those individuals who contributed so much of their time to prepare sections of the report and to assist with editing--Dr. Marjorie Clarke, MaryEllen Etienne, Timothy JW Logan, Christine Datz-Romero, and Christina Hemphill. We were also glad to have Sandra Robishaw and John Culpepper assisting the campaign with education and outreach. David Wood, of the GrassRoots Recycling Network, provided valuable contacts and information to the authors. We are grateful for the efforts of the Zero Waste Campaign’s Committee chairpersons. Many thanks go to our peer reviewers for carefully reading our drafts and bringing their views and experience to the task--Gary Liss, Rick Anthony, Steve Hammer and Michael Schedler.

Appreciation goes to the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance for embarking on this Zero Waste Campaign and to the Municipal Art Society for hosting a legislative breakfast--a "Zero Waste" event--for the release of this report, so that we are able to share our findings.

At the production end of this report, many deserve thanks--Jean Halloran and Robbin Blaine for editing, Toni Rabin and Dana Schifman, particularly for their computer skills and organizational abilities. Then there is Urvashi Rangan, who generously allowed us to kidnap her valuable staff assistant, Dana, for almost two weeks.

Without our funders, none of this would be possible. We would like to thank the Scherman Foundation, the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, New York Community Trust, Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, and the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation for making the Citizens Plan for Zero Waste a reality. We are also grateful to the funders who have enabled a number of the participants to do the work they do each and every day.

ZERO WASTE CAMPAIGN LEADER: Timothy J.W. Logan

COMMITTEES AND CHAIRPERSONS

Waste Prevention/Reuse Joint Committee: MaryEllen Etienne, Reuse Alliance, & Dr. Marjorie Clarke, NYC Waste Prevention Coalition

Composting Committee: Christine Datz-Romero, Lower Eastside Ecology Center  

Education & Outreach Committee: John Culpepper, Lower Washington Heights Neighborhood Association, & Sandra Robishaw, Astoria Residents Reclaiming Our World, ARROW

Transportation Committee: Christina Hemphill, New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, & Ramon Cruz, Environmental Defense