Prohibits waste transfer stations from being located near public housing projects

2 Co-sponsors

• Martin Malavé Dilan
• Ruth Hassell-Thompson

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting marine solid waste transfer stations located in proximity to public housing projects in certain cases

Purpose or general idea of bill

To prohibit the construction, location, relocation, or reactivation of marine solid waste transfer stations or facilities within 800 feet of a public housing project in cities of one million or more.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1. Prohibits the expansion, construction, relocation, reactiviation or operation of a marine solid waste transfer station or facility, where any part of such station or facility is located within 800 feet of a public housing project in cities of one million or more.

Section 2. Effective Date

Justification

It is well established that economically under-served neighborhoods have higher asthma rates. For example, East Harlem, which has been called the "asthma capital of New York," has the dubious distinction of claiming an asthma hospitalization rate that is at five times the City average according to a 1999 study by Mt. Sinai Hospital - one of the highest rates in the nation. The New York City Department of Health confirms these alarming numbers, reporting that East Harlem has the highest rate of child hospitalization for asthma and other respiratory ailments in all of New York City. Many well-documented studies link air pollution to asthma attacks and other respiratory problems. Traffic, particularly truck traffic, is a major contributing factor to this type of pollution.

Many of these same neighborhoods that have high rates of asthma also are more likely to include a greater number of public housing developments, the last bastion of truly affordable housing for low-income New Yorkers in the city. It is important that we ensure that the locating of waste transfer facilities does not unfairly impact economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, specifically public housing developments, which are also often communities of color. Having garbage trucks that spew noxious fumes and leak trash driving past your home all day every day is an undue burden that low-income residents of public housing, who struggle to provide for their families, should not be saddled with.

Prior legislative history

2008: S.8168-A/A.10819-A

Fiscal implications

Unknown.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.