Manhattan’s Battle
Against Waste.
Op-Ed Essay
Manhattan is one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Do you remember when was the last time you strolled down the streets of Manhattan? Did you notice a less glamorous scenery that is filling the city? Perhaps you may have noticed sideways lined with trash bags that are stacked to the sky, blocking the beautiful view of the city as you walk down the sidewalk. Or you may have also noticed blocks of unwanted corrugated cardboard boxes forming a high wall taller than a 10-year-old boy. Today, Manhattan’s waste problem is larger than ever, and citizens are the ones left to live with the consequences.
In 2016, New York City had the reputation of producing more waste than any other city in the world, generating a whopping total of 14 million tons of trash each year (Reed, 2018). Although it is normal to generate trash, the rate at which Manhattan is producing waste is not acceptable. Without proper regulations, waste won’t only be an eyesore, but also will cause detrimental environmental and health issues. This phenomenon must be brought to the awareness of all individuals, and we must act fast to mitigate any further consequences. Efficient and effective measures must be implemented and adopted immediately, or Manhattan will soon be inhabitable.
In the context of Manhattan’s escalating waste crisis, it is obvious that a substantial portion is contributed by packaging. If a waste audit is conducted, it would not be surprising if plastic, glass, and paper rank as the most prevalent materials in the waste stream. These are all common materials for packaging. Plastic alone has accounted for almost half of the globe’s waste, as it has the nature of being lightweight, transparent, durable, and inexpensive, making it a top choice of packaging for businesses (Ritchie & Roser, 2018). In addition, overpackaging is being practiced by sellers which is further contributing to the waste catastrophe. Consumers are frustrated with packaging that is too large for the contents being transported, wrapped with excessive tape, or are not waterproof or recyclable (Mcnees, 2022). Innocent consumers are trying their best to reduce and recycle as much as possible; however, we are not seeing much effort from the seller’s standpoint. The problem in Manhattan continues to be exacerbated by the seller’s unethical behavior and lack of focus on sustainability, which shifts the burden of waste reduction onto customers.
Consumers today find themselves forced to make purchases that inevitably result in the accumulation of packaging and waste. A grocery run alone would result in a large amount of packaging waste that is only to be thrown in the trash. With the lack of sustainable options, consumers today are unable to exercise their right to choose products that support their choices of combating waste, causing overall buyer’s bargaining power to diminish substantially. In the research conducted by DS Smith in 2022, his findings show 81 percent of consumers prioritize sustainability, with over 40 percent saying they would pay more for sustainable packaging. Furthermore, according to Trivium Packaging’s 2021 Global Buying Green Report, two-thirds (67%) of customers believe it crucial that the products they buy come in recyclable packaging, and the same percentage consider themselves environmentally conscious. Younger consumers, specifically below the age of 44, are more aware of sustainable practices and have a higher tendency to pay more for sustainable packaging (Mcnees, 2022).
Consequently, sellers play a key role in leading the motion for reducing waste since most of it originated from them. The issue that businesses need to focus on can be broken down into two steps, one is to solve overpackaging, step two which should be the last resort, is to provide recyclable materials to their consumers. Always keep in mind that the sequence of reduce, reuse, and recycle is ordered in the context of its importance.
Although there are some measures adopted by the Department of Conservation (DEC) to reduce waste, such as the Bag Waste Reduction Act, enforced on October 19, 2020, there are still many flaws in the plan. This law was enacted to forbid anybody obliged to pay New York State sales tax from giving out plastic carryout bags (Department of Environmental Conservation, 2020). Even though this act seems like a viable solution to combat waste, it has been criticized for its “Sluggish Implementation.” The DEC, which oversees execution of the ban, has come under criticism from activists and some lawmakers for not doing enough to enforce it and inform companies and customers about alternatives. While most large supermarket chains comply with this rule, companies like Family Dollar and hundreds of other businesses in the city are slacking in this manner (Kinniburgh, 2022). Besides that, the Packaging and Recycling Infrastructure Act, which is yet to be implemented, is aimed to make packaging manufacturers responsible for the expenses of consumer waste and decrease the usage of toxins. However, the act received strong opposition from state business leaders, probably since if the bill were passed, it would prohibit the use of 12 different chemicals and three different forms of plastic in packaging (Lisa, 2023).
Winning this war requires the collaborative effort of businesses, government, and consumers. In my opinion, businesses are reluctant to adopt sustainable practices due to uncertainty and the lack of access to sustainable alternatives. They are also concerned about the increased costs of production after switching to more sustainable materials, potentially resulting in decline in revenue. Moreover, consumer’s choices and actions must be clear for businesses to feel confident in taking the sustainable route. To address these doubts, businesses should look up to corporations that have effectively and successfully integrated sustainability into their operations. Such examples can provide useful insights for all stakeholders.
A remarkably successful example that met sustainable goals is the Package Free Shop that operates in New York City. On their website, you can find a variety of plastic free products, reusable items, and most importantly, package free items. The company has a rigorous policy of not using plastic materials when shipping products. They put sustainability first by making sure that everything in their shipping procedure is 100% recyclable and compostable. Even the tape used to seal the package is made from non-reinforced paper tape which is compostable (Package Free Shop, 2023). Another effort to reduce waste by the New York City Council, is the Intro No. 1003 which targets corporate-owned fast casual restaurants in New York City to provide consumers with the option of requesting reusable food packaging and participating in a food packaging return system. In fact, this effort was supported by activist Lauren Singer, who is the founder of the previously mentioned Package Free Shop. Reusable packaging legislation has already been enacted in many nations across the world. For example, restaurants and food service businesses in Germany must offer reusable alternatives to single-use packaging when selling food and beverages, according to a new regulation that went into effect in January (Sustainable Packaging News, 2023). Therefore, to drive transformational change, stakeholders need to believe that they can achieve more than they have imagined.
In conclusion, it is crucial for businesses to recognize their responsibility for waste reduction and the adoption of sustainable practices as they predominantly control the supply chain. With the statistics presented above, I am confident that businesses will want to shift to practices that lower waste and their environmental footprint by integrating more sustainable measures into their products and production, as there is a strong demand for sustainability. In addition to that, businesses should look at the long-term effects of waste reduction, in terms of reduced carbon emissions, environmental protection and better quality of living. Government agencies play a significant role in overseeing and measuring the effectiveness of all active policies, by using other countries that have achieved waste reduction and sustainable development as a benchmark. Finally, we as consumers must continue to show a strong demand and use our voice for advocacy for a change. We must persist in encouraging businesses to prioritize the following order for sustainable waste management: first, reduce waste; second, promote reuse of materials; and third, recycle, to advocate for a more environmentally responsible world for generations to come, and to bring back a once bright and thriving Manhattan.
References
Department of Environmental Conservation (Ed.). (2020). Bag Waste Reduction Law: Information for Manufacturers and Retailers – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation. Www.dec.ny.gov. https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/117781.html
Kinniburgh, C. (2022, October 12). New York Banned Plastic Bags Two Years Ago. Why Are They Still…. New York Focus. https://nysfocus.com/2022/10/12/plastic-bag-ban-enforcement-dec-family-dollar
Lisa, K. (2023, June 5). New York businesses slam amended packaging reduction bill. Spectrumlocalnews.com. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/politics/2023/06/05/businesses-slam-ame nded-packaging-reduction-bill
Mcnees, M. (2022, December 12). Report shows consumers have increased recycling, frustrated by excessive packaging. Recycling Today. https://www.recyclingtoday.com/news/ds-smith-report-shows-consumers-increased-rec ycling-frustrated-by-excessive-packaging/
Package Free Shop. (2023). How We Ship. Packagefreeshop.com. https://packagefreeshop.com/pages/how-we-ship
Reed, B. (2018, May 11). This article is more than 6 years old What does New York do with all its trash? One city’s waste – in numbers. The Guardian; The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/oct/27/new-york-rubbish-all-that-trash-city-w aste-in-numbers
Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2018, September). Plastic Pollution. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution
Sustainable Packaging News. (2023, April 12). Choose to Reuse: NYC Council Members Introduce First-Ever Legislation to Require Fast Casual Restaurants Offer Reusable Food Packaging to Consumers. Sustainable Packaging News. https://spnews.com/choose-to-reuse-nyc-council-members-introduce-first-ever-leg/
