N.Y. City Budget Watchdog: Overhaul Trash Collection

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Redesigning the public and private components of local waste collection would save New York City about $300 million annually long term, the Citizens Budget Commission watchdog organization said in a report.

"Mayor [Bill de Blasio] and City Council should make this restructuring a goal and begin a multiyear phase-in," the CBC said in a statement that accompanied its report, "Getting the Fiscal Waste Out of Solid Waste Collection in New York City."

CBC cited the importance of the timing -- a new mayoral administration, a new sanitation commissioner (Kathryn Garcia) and an expired contract with municipal sanitation workers.

In the short term, according to the commission, the city should implement three changes through negotiations with the Uniformed Sanitationmen's Association (USA) and related City Council legislation. These three changes to the municipal Department of Sanitation would save $96 million annually. CBC said.

"New York City's system of garbage collection should be much more efficient," said CBC president Carol Kellermann. "It's time to eliminate waste - not just collect it."

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