Nonprofits fear trash containerization will cost them jobs
The mandate goes into effect on Aug. 1, but fines won't be issued till next year.
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There are several groups throughout the city that conduct supplementary sanitation services, including nonprofit ACE group that employs about 165 people citywide to clean up public litter.
A new mandate from the Department of Sanitation requires these companies to containerize public trash instead of putting it in bags next to trash cans.
This move puts the cost of the bins, installation, maintenance and insurance on the nonprofits who clean the trash and not the city.
"I was shocked because usually when there's new policies or new mandates, they come with funding," said James Martin, the executive director of ACE.
Martin tells News 12 his company needs over 200 bins to conduct the work they do. He says that will cost them close to $5 million, a price he says they can't pay and stay open.
"We're really, really concerned that this could be the end of our organization," Martin said. He goes on to say he's not sure what to tell his employees who fear they may be out of a job soon.
DSNY tells News 12 they're working with organizations like ACE to come up with a solution that keeps up with their operations and ensures no jobs are lost.
The mandate goes into effect on Aug. 1, but fines won't be issued till next year.
