The CRAB sees the mission of the Recycling Authority as follows: to increase the rate and efficiency of the recycling program as well as to expand the universe of recyclable items by fostering community involvement. This includes the creation community-based recycling centers where both private citizens and industrial concerns may come to redeem their recyclable items.

The CRAB supports the positive actions that this authority would engender: 1. Removal of the Bureau of Waste Prevention, recycling and composting from the control of the Department of Sanitation. (DOS); 2. Creation of a dedicated revenue stream consisting of unredeemed bottle deposits and enforcement fines; 3. Prevention of constant threats to recycling budget, removing the budget from the political arena; 4. Supports the expanded bottle bill; 5. Supports targeting 80% of the discard stream for waste prevention, recycling and composting; 6. Supports a buy-back program; 7. Supports enhanced market development, a concept heretofore ignored by DOS.

The Authority could also oversee such initiatives as : public education concerns, litter abatement and waste reduction programs, colored glass sorting programs, recycling in public schools and public housing.

Monies to run the Recycling Authority can come from the following sources: 1. DOS budget for paper recycling; 2) Monies previously designated for the Bureau of Waste Prevention and Recycling and two other sources, which would require the approval of New York State, 3. Unclaimed nickel deposits on bottles and 4. Disposal fees from an expanded deposit bottle bill.

Further revenues could be generated as follows: 1.. Advance disposal fees for problem elements of the waste stream (e.g. tires, batteries, electronics and environmentally unfriendly packaging). 2. Consider a different allocation of funds for the future; that is have the amount tied to a per ton cost rather than a flat fee so that as recycling expands ore funds are allocated from the City to the Authority.

The operating budget of the Authority will be approximately $160 million dollars. By subsuming DOS’s Bureau of Waste Prevention and Recycling, the Authority will provide the City with approximately $38 million annual budget relief for the cost of metal, glass and plastic recycling as well as the potential for job growth and economic development opportunities. The Authority could also provide a potential savings of $55 million dollars by overhauling the Bureau of Waste Prevention and Recycling’s administrative and overhead expenses. *

The CRAB has the following questions and concerns: 1. Will the Recycling Authority be the ultimate authority or will the DOS continue to exert its influence? 2. Can the Authority specify collection vehicles, routing and overtime in order to improve cost effectiveness of collection. 3. Can the Authority choose to set up a competition between DOS and the private sector for collection (as is being done currently in Newark, New Jersey. 4. Who will oversee the Authority’s budget and to whom will the Authority be accountable for its actions? These are just a few of the CRAB’s concerns regarding the Recycling Authority.

The CRAB, as realistic advocates for the environment in New York City realizes that the vision of this Council may not be realized or may not be realized immediately. In that event the CRAB requests that the City Council prepare for alternatives if the Recycling Authority does not come about. New York City’s recycling program must be retained, even John Doherty stated recently: " a step backward is no good."