Despite plans to create a new, centralized Commercial Waste Zone program that would improve the oversight of notoriously competitive and reckless waste carters, the Department of Sanitation has not implemented them yet. Many advocates and officials are alarmed and a recent pedestrian fatality — Diego Andrade, 58 — demonstrates the need for immediate implementation.

“Yet another tragic fatality involving a private sanitation truck shows the urgent need to fully implement the new commercial waste zones system mandated by Local Law 199 of 2019 as soon as possible. The new system has the potential to eliminate millions of unnecessary and dangerous truck miles on local streets, reduce overwork and fatigue for private sanitation workers, ensure that companies install modern safety equipment on trucks, and will give the City the leverage to hold waste haulers accountable to a comprehensive contract.” – Justin Wood, director of policy at NYLPI.

Read the full story at Streetsblog NYC.