Council hearing on bill to exempt medical-waste generators from commercial waste zones draws broad opposition

A New York City Council sanitation committee hearing on Intro 13-49 centered on whether businesses that generate regulated medical waste should be exempt from the city's commercial waste zone (CWZ) program established by Local Law 199 of 2019.

Several advocacy groups, environmental organizations, unions and private haulers urged the committee to reject the bill, arguing it would create a large loophole that undermines CWZ goals of reducing truck traffic, cutting emissions, improving worker safety, and stabilizing rates. Supporters from the health care sector and some specialized haulers said hospitals and other health facilities face unique, tightly regulated waste streams and need contracting flexibility to manage those streams safely and affordably.

The debate drew repeated references to the text and intent of Local Law 199 (2019). Janille Scott, climate director at Align and a representative of the Transform, Don't Trash coalition, testified she opposed Intro 13-49 because "it would provide a broad exemption to health care care facilities and other generators of medical waste by redefining the definition of commercial establishment,"…