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Advocates urge rapid expansion of curbside composting, stronger reporting and passage of bottle bill
Summary
Environmental groups at the oversight hearing pressed DPW to scale the curbside compost pilot, publish waste‑diversion data, and support a recycling refund (bottle) law; they asked the Office of Waste Diversion to host quarterly stakeholder briefings and post program metrics.
Environmental advocates told the committee that DC’s curbside compost pilot and smart‑bin program should be expanded and better measured to trigger statutory responsibilities under the city’s 0‑waste law.
"This may very well be one of the most transformative 0 waste policies the district has ever implemented," said Chris Weiss of the DC Environmental Network in urging support for a bottle‑deposit bill and for more transparency on diversion rates. Witnesses noted the FY26 budget expanded the curbside pilot from 9,000 to 12,000 households and that DPW has announced an increase in smart bins to 51, but several witnesses said annual diversion reports are missing for 2023–25 and requested timely publication and quarterly briefings.
Sierra Club co‑chairs and other witnesses recommended DOE’s quarterly stakeholder model for DPW and asked DPW to report commercial compliance, results of the FY26 expansion, and agency briefings on international study trips. The committee indicated it will follow up with DPW government witnesses at the March session.
