Tuesday, May 15, 2012

NYC Department of Sanitation Names Sustainability Director


Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656 
According to multiple industry sources, Ron Gonen, co-founder and former CEO of Recyclebank, will be named the first-ever sustainability director for New York City’s Department of Sanitation. This newly created position will focus on waste reduction, reuse, composting and recycling initiatives.

His official title will be Deputy Commissioner for Sustainability. He will be required to lead the Bureau of Waste Prevention, its staff of 29 workers and a $30 million annual budget.
While still in graduate school, Gonen and friend Patrick FitzGerald launched Recyclebank as a pilot program in Philadelphia in 2004, working to convince households that there were financial incentives to recycling. Recyclebank now has rewards-for-recycling programs available to more than three million members in the United States and United Kingdom (http://goo.gl/kGWDf).

New York City has a plan to double the city’s landfill diversion rate by the year 2017. Gonen will work with Mayor Bloomberg’s office and the Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability to meet the solid waste goals of PlaNYC. He will also advise DoS Commissioner John Doherty and staff on initiatives within the department, which include reducing emissions from DSNY’s fleet, and exploring alternatives to landfills for city refuse.

Gonen stepped down as CEO of Recyclebank in June 2011 but stayed on the board of directors. 

Contact us at Boro Wide at 718-416-1656 if you have any questions about recycling or landfills. We will answer any questions you may have!

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