With more people becoming aware and concerned about protecting the environment, many new policies have been enacted in order to combat carbon emissions and invest in alternative energy sources. The city of Hoboken has also taken a step in this direction by launching the Zero Waste initiative. This initiative was part of the city’s Climate Action Plan that was adopted in 2019. The Climate Action Plan aims to have the entire city of Hoboken be carbon neutral by 2050, and net zero energy by 2030, and it specifically focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Zero Waste initiative primarily deals with being resourceful and innovative while dealing with waste. The goal of this project is to better manage waste, preserve its value, reduce its negative environmental impact, and rely less on natural resources.
Through this initiative, changes will be made to the current waste management system. In Hoboken, businesses and residents alike do not have to pay any sort of service fee for waste removal. The city collects solid waste type-10 three times a week across the city and six times a week for limited business areas. Additionally, recycling for aluminum, paper, and plastic is done once a week and six times a week in limited business areas. Hoboken also provides its residents with several free compost drop-offs which started off as one in 2019 and have expanded to 12 in 2021. For now, it is unclear how the implementation of this Zero Waste program will change the current waste management system, but the city of Hoboken has put out a survey for Hoboken residents and businesses to share their thoughts and feedback.
To start off this Zero Waste initiative, Hoboken completed a waste audit to categorize the different streams of waste. The city’s hired consulting firm conducted the waste audit from September 19, 2022, to September 23, 2022. The study was performed at 200 Harrison St. and the procedure included collected samples of wastes that were representative of the entire Hoboken community. A typical sample will have 200-250 pounds of waste, which is equivalent to about 20 bags full of waste. The data collected included statistics on the quantity of waste produced by residents and businesses and the types of waste produced. This information was crucial to find as it will later be used to create the Zero Waste Plan which is going to be a compilation of services, programs, and policies to reshape waste management in Hoboken.
With the audit study complete and experts and officials currently working on writing the Zero Waste Plan, the Zero Waste initiative is currently in progress. While it is not known when the plan will be finished, given the effort put forward by the city to gather data both quantitative (waste audit) and qualitative (feedback from residents and businesses), the plan will likely instate policies that are efficient and innovative. The future of waste management in the city of Hoboken is certainly due for a change if the goals of the city’s Climate Action Plan are to be achieved. However, the success of these plans is only possible if everyone—city officials, experts, residents, and businesses—all make an effort.
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