Our Committees
The MSWAB is comprised of 38 individuals selected by the Manhattan Borough President’s Office for two year terms. A 5-Person Executive Team, Steering Committee of Committee chairs, and 3 Members at Large govern the MSWAB.
The MSWAB is fiscally sponsored by the Open Space Institute, Inc. View our MSWAB Bylaws and MSWAB Procedures to learn more.
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Chair: Allison Allen
The Organics Committee promotes diversion of NYC’s food scraps from landfill to composting or methane by-product capture. We track residential diversion efforts, report on waste policy, provide technical expertise, testimony and best practices, and help administer annual composting grant program. Check out the Organics page for resources, information and tips.
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Co-Chairs: Diane Blackwell & Kristen Lasky
The NYCHA Recycling Committee seeks to improve existing NYCHA recycling and expand residential access to recycling across the borough of Manhattan. The Committee pursues this goal by forging sustainable collaborations with existing NYCHA objectives, community organizations, and concerned residents.
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Chair: Anna Sacks
The Legislative Committee internally advises the MSWAB on City and State legislation, and drafts and maintains the MSWAB’s annual legislative agenda. Our advocacy includes the drafting and delivering of testimony for public hearings as well as letters of support. We engage with and educate local elected officials and key decision makers. The committee builds coalitions around timely issues and also reviews and comments on the City’s proposed budget for Zero Waste.
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Chair: Danielle Dookie
The Data & Technology Committee is responsible for the development, curation and management of the MSWAB website and content. We also leverage NYC's open data to assist with MSWAB’s zero waste initiatives.
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Chair: Joyce Bialik
The Residential Recycling and Reuse Committee aims to develop tools and conduct outreach to promote methods that will increase resident participation in recycling and reuse programs.
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Co-Chairs: Danielle Hartley
The Waste Prevention and Reuse Committee recommends policies, legislation, research programs and pilots, budgets, line items, educational methods, and outreach campaigns for the MSWAB and partners to adopt and support. In addition, the Committee administers the Reduce, Reuse and Repair grant.
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Chair: Sharon Silbermann
The Textile Waste Committee aims to unite stakeholders across the value chain - manufacturers, designers, merchandisers, consumers, recyclers, and more - around a vision to transform NYC into a circular textile city.
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Chair: Maggie Clarke
Our central interests are zero waste and long-range planning to get to zero waste. It's a broad purview including but not limited to creating legislation, testimony, alternative plans, budget research and communicating these with elected officials and agencies and encouraging new policies that fall in line with zero waste by 2030 or close. The Long Range Planning Committee monitors and evaluates the work of the Department of Sanitation and other city agencies and makes recommendations to help expedite NYC’s transition to zero waste.
The LRPC meets every other Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. If you're interested in joining please email or visit the Events calendar for more details.
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Chair: Matt Civello
The Fundraising Committee leads the SWAB's efforts to raise funds and attract services to carry out the Board’s mission. The Committee hosts events in the fall and spring to raise money for the MSWAB’s grant programs.
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Chairs: Lorial Crowder & Danielle Dookie
The Social Media and PR Committee works to promote MSWAB’s work and educate the public on solid waste/zero waste issues through social media platforms and email newsletters
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Chair:
The Outreach Committee seeks to educate and inform the public about Zero Waste issues and works with local elected officials and neighborhood institutions like Community Boards, block associations, and religious institutions to create materials.