Convenience in Green Tech

So I can't really speak for other cities' transit authorities, but the Metropolitan Transit Authority that serves the New York City area is absolutely ridiculous. Case in point, they've recently expanded a four-year-long pilot project that eliminates waste bins at subway stations in each borough. Twenty-nine stations have removed the bins, hoping that it will jumpstart a carry-in, carry-out policy for the MTA. They believe it will help reduce litter, station maintenance efforts, and rat food sources.

It's yet another of the widespread conservation efforts underway to turn NYC into a green and modern city. However this is one I can't get behind. It seems to me like a convenient way to eliminate costs under the guise of sustainability. Litter is a prominent cause of track fires and also clogs gutters and drains, all of which eventually lead to train delays or interruptions.

See, no matter the social effort, litter is an unfortunate aspect of life in NYC (America's dirtiest city). Asking everyone to do their part is a good start, but the public outreach will never be effective enough to truly eliminate the need for waste bins.

For a sustainability initiative I can get behind? How about the new generation of food carts slated to hit NYC corners this summer. Older generations of food carts are surprisingly sturdy, and many date back to the 1970s-the last time a new food cart medallion was issued. The electricity to these food carts is supplied in most cases by a generator, for anywhere from four to 16 hours a day. One research firm found that a single food cart emits the same level of nitrous oxide as 186 automobiles. These new ones will be powered from solar and battery supplied electricity, and will cut emissions by 60%. They'll also be more easily maintained and upgraded, as most current food carts are customized and hard to work on.

Of course food carts are never gourmet experiences, but they're reliable and hunger-satisfying if nothing else. Most importantly, convenience is never compromised. Will lower operating costs equate to lower prices? Probably not, but anything beats paying $30 for a hot dog with soda. (Just kidding. If it's more than $2 just walk away.)

Truth is, NYC has always been behind the curve on issues like this, despite overall good pollution metrics for such a large city. Last month Mayor de Blasio announced One NYC, which promises to curb greenhouse emissions by 80% by 2050 and reduce the amount of trash produced by 90%. Currently, much of the city's garbage is trucked out of the metro area, sometimes up to 650 miles away, which add needless carbon emissions.

Under the plan, large buildings will be subjected the waste audits and restaurants would have to separate food waste for composting. Plastic bags will be virtually eliminated. The recycling rate in New York is a pathetic 15%, compared to 34% nationally, and up to 75% on left coast cities like San Diego, San Francisco, and Portland.

The point is, sustainability efforts need to be critically examined for their convenience if they're expected to be successful. For this reason, the MTA's plan to eliminate waste bins seems shortsighted. Meanwhile, One NYC and the new wave of food carts will provide substantial improvements without affecting convenience, and will likely have much more public support and lasting effect.