Put Waste to Work is a vision plan for how New York City can transform its interconnected waste management system, so that all New Yorkers can enjoy vibrant streetscapes, healthy neighborhoods, and clean sidewalks. The campaign outlines strategies for the circulation of materials before they are disposed of, city-wide containerization of waste, and composting discarded food scraps for use in city greenscapes.

The Center for Zero Waste Design and WXY developed Put Waste To Work as both an advocacy campaign and a vision plan to outline how New York City can transform its interconnected waste management system so that all New Yorkers can enjoy vibrant streetscapes, healthy neighborhoods, and cleaner sidewalks.

This project was launched in 2021, timed to compel New York City’s incoming Adams Administration to prioritize planning a better waste system, making the city cleaner, greener, and more resilient, and eliminating the inequitable impacts of current practices. Put Waste To Work includes design strategies to circulate materials so reuse comes before disposal; to compact and contain wasted materials so they take up less public space, require fewer trucks, and attract fewer pests; and to compost organic materials to regenerate soils and bring health to our urban ecosystems. 

“The effort is supported at high levels by not only former sanitation commissioners but also policymakers, BIDs, real estate owners, community-based businesses, and experts of every stripe.” 

—Claire Weisz, FAIA, WXY Architecture + Urban Design

Focusing on reduction and improved separation, the plan lists over 30 strategies the city can implement to help circulate materials so reuse and repair comes before disposal; compact and contain waste so sidewalks are clean, with fewer rodents and trucks, and compost organic waste to regenerate soils and support green spaces. Fewer waste and delivery trucks going door-to-door would reduce noise, danger, and congestion on streets, as well as air pollution. Soils enriched by compost sourced from residential organic waste could keep our green areas healthy, which would in turn retain stormwater and mitigate the risk of flooding. Jobs in reuse and containerized waste would  spur a wave of workforce development training, and are better and safer than those lugging bags of trash. By promoting circular practices, the plan highlights how stewardship opportunities can strengthen local, cultural connections to healthy food, and lead to civic engagement and social resilience. Together with repair and reuse, they offer tangible steps for New Yorkers to start living in a more sustainable way, helping NYC reduce the costs of waste export and achieve livability, equity, resilience and climate goals.