Future-Ready Strategy Will Guide Growth of NYC Landmark, Serve as “North Star” Model for Commercial Waste Management Nationally
The Trust for Governors Island engaged Great Forest to develop a scalable and future-ready sustainable waste management plan to support the New York landmark’s rapid growth. Great Forest delivered a data-driven roadmap to guide The Trust’s waste-related infrastructure, collection and policy decisions for years to come. This waste strategy will serve as a cost-effective and efficient waste management model that can be replicated across the country.
Client
The Trust for Governors Island
Challenge
Governors Island is a 172-acre island destination in the heart of New York Harbor welcoming nearly 1 million visitors annually and hosting a diverse range of tenants. The Trust for Governors Island oversees the island’s planning, operations and ongoing development.
With 3.75 million sq. ft. of new development planned, and 1 million sq. ft. of historic buildings set for redevelopment, the Trust needed a comprehensive waste management plan that could grow with the landmark.
They turned to Great Forest for help to develop a phased waste management strategy that could:
- Scale with growth in phases
- Be replicable, sustainable and innovative
- Remain affordable, cost-effective and compliant with all regulations
- Manage all waste streams efficiently in the near and long-term
- Meet the needs of a future mix of tenants that would include academic, commercial, non-profit, cultural, convening and hospitality organizations.
- Be a “North Star” guide and source of inspiration for effective waste management in NYC and nationwide
Solution
Great Forest developed a three-prong solution to meet The Trust’s sustainable waste operations planning needs.
1. Operational Analysis
Great Forest conducted an operational assessment to:
- Understand the island’s waste infrastructure and operations, and identify opportunities to increase efficiency.
- Ensure compliance with local and state waste regulations.
- Verify that tenants, vendors, and visitors were following the island’s waste program requirements.
2. Waste Characterization Study
Great Forest performed detailed waste audits to provide profiles for three waste generator types — tenants, vendors and visitors. The resulting report included:
- Actionable data with waste generation and diversion rates, best-case diversion and capture rates based on the current program and/or available markets, and projected waste generation rates as the island grows
- Photographs to document non-compliance risks, best practices and potential improvements
- Recommendations for waste collection infrastructure upgrades, waste education and training opportunities, waste policy changes and management structure adjustments
3. Phased Waste Management Strategy
Drawing on both the operational analysis and waste characterization study, Great Forest designed a comprehensive waste management plan to manage the island’s waste streams. The strategy addressed immediate needs while preparing for mid- and long-term “tipping points” anticipated with the island’s growth and development. Great Forest delivered:
- A waste sorting and collection strategy that included recommendations on streams that The Trust should collect, with resulting waste diversion rate projections if material collection were expanded.
- A waste hauling plan with proposed routing, service frequencies and transfer station options that would grow with the island.
- A zero waste policy and program document to guide sustainable waste operations.
Results
Great Forest delivered an in-depth and sustainable waste management plan for how The Trust would move forward, including:
- A clear zero waste roadmap for waste-related infrastructure, collection and policies to guide the island as it grows and develops
- A data-driven strategy to reduce waste and increase waste diversion rates now and into the future.
- An efficient, cost-effective and sustainable waste management model that can be replicated by other cities nationwide seeking to achieve Zero Waste goals