New sanitation service for residential buildings - New York, New York Department of Sanitation to offer disposal services for non-medical solid waste for businesses operating in residential locations

Real Estate Weekly, Nov 18, 1992

New York City Sanitation Commissioner Emily Lloyd announced that the Sanitation Department will offer collection and disposal service for non-medical solid waste -- including recyclables -- generated by professionals, such as physicians and dentists, who conduct business in residential buildings.

This new service, for which the department will charge a fee, is optional. Professionals in residential buildings may still choose to contract with private carters. Pursuant to Local Law 41 of 1992, regulations enabling the department to offer this service took effect on October 16th.

Applications were mailed starting mid-October to physicians and dentists throughout the city. Mailings to other professional groups who have a large number of members working in residential buildings are also planned. All professionals who meet the established criteria are eligible for this program.

To qualify, professionals must have offices in houses or apartment buildings currently receiving Sanitation Department service and must meet one of these criteria:

* Be authorized by law to practice at a residential location that also serves as their home

* Be a licensed New York State physician or dentist engaged in an individual or group medical practice on the first or second floor of an apartment building

* Practice in an office which has been used for the same occupational purpose since Dec. 15, 1961.

The Sanitation Department's non-refundable annual fee varies with the amount of waste collected and disposed. It is based on the estimated number of bags generated per week. The fee schedule, which includes an 8.25 percent State sales tax, ranges from $328 annually for one to five 20-gallon bags to $1,172.35 annually for 16 to 20-gallon bags.

To learn more about the professional fees program, call the Sanitation Action Center at (212) 219-8090, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.