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Small Businesses Propose Alternatives to Immediately Reform Commercial Waste Industry and Avoid Monopoly Zones Now

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

New York, NY- September 18, 2019: Today small business leaders from the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, National Supermarket Association and the Queens Chamber of Commerce not only voice their concerns of the commercial waste zone reform process, but they have also proposed new solutions that could be immediately implemented to increase safety and weed out bad actors in the commercial waste system. Proposed solutions that at the same time protect the livelihood and jobs generated by thousands of businesses across all five boroughs.

In the attached letter sent to Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Johnson, this coalition of small business and trade associations calls on the City to meaningfully work with small businesses to address their needs while protecting the environment and our neighborhoods. This can be done without setting up a system that will immediately or inevitably will lead to monopolistic control such as Intro 1574 does. Monopolies have never worked in New York City, especially in the commercial waste trade industry. Small businesses are at the mercy of their carters and the City’s current proposed system mirrors recent failed attempts in other large cities that have led to higher prices and poorer service, burdening the customer who desperately need commercial waste removal services on a daily basis.

It is irresponsible to force small businesses to lose control of their ability to negotiate services at prices they can afford with the providers of their choice. Making New York follow the same policy that has failed most recently in Los Angeles will doom the City to a handful of powerful carters who will have no incentive to offer the best services at the best prices.

“Small businesses are the backbone of New York, employing millions of New Yorkers and driving our economy. A commercial waste zone plan that limits competition and fails to guard against monopoly control will only hurt small businesses. We only need to look at the damage done by similar policies in Los Angeles to know we need to rethink this policy, work with all stakeholders to find a competitive solution, and ensure we protect our small businesses without jeopardizing our economy,” says Jessica Walker, President, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce.

“The City is trying to propose a one size fits all outcome on all businesses throughout the City of New York. The Bronx is very different from other parts of the City and that is why we think a borough based approach would be better to eliminate wasteful travel across the boroughs by carters and preserve the ability of small businesses to hire ,and when necessary fire, the carters of their choice to provide the services that they need.” says Lisa Sorin, President, The New Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

’An exclusive vendor system only results in increased costs and decreased service, an outcome that small business simply cannot afford. We urge the City Council to work with the small business community to come up with a plan that includes feedback from all stakeholders not just a select few’ Nelson Eusebio, Director of Government Relations, National Supermarket Association.


“The legislation being considered by the City Council and the Department of Sanitation’s proposal would both lead to the City to being controlled by a handful of carting companies, restricting the options that small business owners have. The common sense proposal outlined in our letter to the Mayor and Speaker will preserve a robust carting industry, provide options for small business and ensure the best services at the best price,” says Tom Grech, President & CEO, Queens Chamber of Commerce.

“We are encouraged by Speaker Johnson’s public comments that the Council should not pass anything that harms small businesses and we look forward to having thoughtful dialogue with the City of New York on the best path to reform the industry and maintain robust choices for carting services throughout the five boroughs.” says Samara Karasyk, Chief Policy Officer, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

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Chris Smith
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