Tracy Alloway and Joe Weisenthal interview Joshua Goodman, DSNY deputy commissioner, on the Odd Lots podcast about New York City's waste management. Goodman explains that trash collection remains one of the last free, unlimited city services untouched by neoliberalism, with no opt-in or means testing. The city processes 24 million pounds of trash daily.
The discussion covers why NYC produces less waste than perceived, the DSNY's new containerization program, and new side-loading trucks built in under 18 months. Goodman also argues recycling is not a scam. The hosts debate the political neutrality of waste pickup, citing former Mayor Fiorello La Guardia's quote that there is no Republican or Democratic way to collect garbage.
New York's unique challenges include bag-based curb collection and the city's effort to change this legacy practice. The conversation highlights the complex logistics of urban sanitation and the evolving strategies to modernize one of the city's most essential services.
Source: Bloomberg Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing