The Earth Engineering Center of The City College of New York (EEC|CCNY) has submitted formal comments to the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) on its Draft Solid Waste Management Plan 2026 (SWMP26).
In its comment, EEC highlights opportunities to strengthen the plan’s alignment with the EPA waste management hierarchy, improve transparency in diversion data, and incorporate lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) considerations into long-term planning. The Center also raises concerns regarding the expiration of the Essex waste-to-energy (WTE) contract in 2032, noting that the facility currently manages more than 12% of DSNY-handled refuse and represents the least CO₂-intensive disposal pathway available to the City for residual waste.
Additional recommendations include more realistic diversion projections, consideration of mixed waste processing, expanded use of anaerobic digestion for organics, evaluation of advanced plastics recovery technologies, and contingency planning related to PFAS in compost streams.
EEC offers these comments in the spirit of constructive engagement and welcomes continued dialogue with DSNY to help ensure that New York City’s waste management strategy is transparent, resilient, and aligned with its climate objectives.
Read EEC|CCNY’s full comment here:
260116Comment_EEC_DSNYEEC Comment on Draft SWMP26 – January 16, 2026