RoRo Requirements
Currently, the requirements shared by DSNY for RoRos (Roll-on Roll-off containers) are unclear and not coordinated with the other city agencies in charge of streetscapes and streets. DSNY, DCP and DOT should get together to clarify requirements, determine where they make sense given the city's zero waste goals, and determine how best to require or incentivize developers to provide them. Currently DSNY allows compacting RoRos for trash or cardboard, but not for metal, glass and plastics recycling. DSNY also require 25 foot headroom and space for the truck to enter the building, which takes up a lot of valuable street level floor area, impacts the quality of streetscapes and is expensive. Given that, they only make sense in very large developments or where they are shared between multiple buildings, but that is typically not permitted by zoning rules. In Battery Park City RoRos for trash were installed with less floor area and headroom, and they are shared between buildings on different zoning lots. See case study. In 2020 DSNY proposed a rule to require RoRos in new development, but the Center for Zero Waste Design had concerns, see link to testimony.
RoRo Requirements
Currently, the requirements shared by DSNY for RoRos (Roll-on Roll-off containers) are unclear and not coordinated with the other city agencies in charge of streetscapes and streets. DSNY, DCP and DOT should get together to clarify requirements, determine where they make sense given the city's zero waste goals, and determine how best to require or incentivize developers to provide them. Currently DSNY allows compacting RoRos for trash or cardboard, but not for metal, glass and plastics recycling. DSNY also require 25 foot headroom and space for the truck to enter the building, which takes up a lot of valuable street level floor area, impacts the quality of streetscapes and is expensive. Given that, they only make sense in very large developments or where they are shared between multiple buildings, but that is typically not permitted by zoning rules. In Battery Park City RoRos for trash were installed with less floor area and headroom, and they are shared between buildings on different zoning lots. See case study. In 2020 DSNY proposed a rule to require RoRos in new development, but the Center for Zero Waste Design had concerns, see link to testimony.