Brooklyn Solid Waste Advisory Board

The Brooklyn Solid Waste Advisory Board (BkSWAB) is a volunteer citizens’ advisory board dedicated to helping our borough contribute to New York City's zero waste goals. Our monthly meetings are open to the public, and all are encouraged to join.

BkSWAB Updates

  • Check out the recording from our recent event - Plastic Packaging: Threats to Human Health - Teach-in with Jenny Davies, MD, MPH, Cafeteria Culture, Public & Environmental Health Director

  • In the news! BkSWAB members Greg and Pablo supported “Celebrate Our Earth” Waste Collection Event at Wagner Houses on May 11. Check out the coverage here.

  • 2021 Solid Waste Management City Candidate Questionnaire: see the results of our questionnaire to candidates for Brooklyn City Council offices, Brooklyn Borough President, Mayor, Comptroller and Public Advocate on our Resources page.

  • Check out our YouTube Channel!

  • Free Fridges are now mapped across the city - https://nycfridge.com/

  • BkSWAB's commitment to racial and environmental justice: We need to continue to break our silos and focus even more on the intersection of waste and environmental equity, justice and racism. We cannot solve environmental problems and climate change without addressing systemic racism. BkSWAB is committed to listening, reflecting, and discussing how we can be better allies to communities of color and how we can work to change the system where reform is long overdue. We welcome your suggestions and events to share, please email us.

  • COVID-19 Impact: See our resource page for some things you can do now to take action and reduce waste.

  • Food scrap drop off sites can be found in a few places:

    • The trusty #dropofftracker by @ahealthyblueprint remains the best resource for the variety of privately-run and volunteer-operated drop offs and #microhauling services, and details in the notes offer info about how each site operates. Find a list of these sites in the second tab of the spreadsheet at bit.ly/NYCdropofftracker, and also link to the map created by a @saveourcompost volunteer!

    • The NYC Department of Sanitation’s map at nyc.gov/dropfoodscraps.

    • GrowNYC’s Food Scrap Drop Off map at grownyc.org/compost.

  • Advocacy: Support #SaveOurCompost campaign on social media.

  • Next Meeting: Monday, February 6, 2023, hybrid meeting; in person + Zoom

If you would like to be added to our email list to receive notifications of upcoming meetings and events, please email swab.brooklyn@gmail.com.

Calendar of Events

See below for the Brooklyn SWAB's monthly meeting, committee meetings, and other related waste-prevention events.

Want to submit an event to the BkSWAB calendar? Add the event to your own calendar and invite swab.brooklyn@gmail.com. Our Executive Committee will review and approve appropriate submissions.