a. For each area designated as a commercial waste zone pursuant to section 16-1001, the department shall be authorized to select and to enter into agreements with no more than three awardees per zone, permitting each awardee to provide for the collection, transport and removal of commercial waste within such zone as set forth in such agreement. The department shall be further authorized to select and enter into agreements with no more than five awardees permitting each awardee to provide for the collection, transport and removal of containerized commercial waste from any commercial establishment within the city of New York as set forth in such agreement. The department shall only enter into an agreement pursuant to this subdivision with an awardee that has obtained a license issued by the business integrity commission pursuant to subdivision a of section 16-505 on or before the date of such agreement. A proposer that responds to the request for proposals authorized pursuant to subdivision b of this section that does not hold such a license at the time a proposal is submitted pursuant to this section must submit an application for such a license to the business integrity commission no later than the date such proposal is submitted to the department. The initial term of any such agreement shall include authorization to collect, transport and remove commercial waste for ten years in each zone covered by such agreement. The department shall have the option, at its sole discretion, to renew any such agreement for no more than two additional terms of no more than five years each, provided that prior to the expiration of any agreement entered into pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall provide the awardee with adequate written notice of whether it intends to renew such agreement. The department shall not enter into any such agreement with an awardee that results in such awardee providing services in more than fifteen commercial waste zones, provided that any agreement to provide for the collection, transport and removal of containerized commercial waste citywide shall not count toward such limit.
b. No later than one year after the effective date of the local law that added this section, the department shall issue one or more requests for proposals to conduct commercial waste removal in a commercial waste zone and to collect containerized commercial waste citywide and, based upon the review and evaluation of responses thereto, may negotiate and enter into such agreements pursuant to subdivision a of this section, as the department, in its discretion, determines will best provide for the efficient and orderly removal of commercial waste, consistent with the provisions of this title. Whenever necessary to ensure the ongoing efficient and orderly removal of commercial waste, the department may issue additional requests for proposals and, based upon the review and evaluation of responses thereto, may negotiate and enter into agreements in accordance with the provisions of this section. Any requests for proposals issued pursuant to this subdivision shall solicit information regarding the qualifications of proposers. Where a proposer intends to arrange for designated carters other than the proposer to provide all or some portion of the services requested, such proposal shall provide the requested information with respect to each designated carter being proposed. When evaluating proposals pursuant to the procedures described in this subdivision, the department shall consider the following factors:
1. The rate or rates to be charged to establishments for such services, including the proposer's commitment to providing lower rates for organics and recycling collection than for refuse collection services, the proposer's plan for covering costs of third party waste audits, and any extra service fees or supplemental charges the proposer plans on including in the pricing structure, except that in the case of a proposal to provide for the collection, transport and removal of containerized commercial waste citywide, a description of the proposer's commitment to providing lower rates for organics and recycling collection shall only be required where such proposal includes organics or recycling collection, transport and removal services;
2. The nature and frequency of the commercial waste removal services to be provided and the proposer's plan for ensuring that the proposer has the ability and adequate capacity to provide such services within the zone, including but not limited to, a description of the proposer's fleet and other relevant infrastructure, the proposer's plans, if any, for the set-out of commercial waste in a matter that promotes the city's goals of improving cleanliness, rodent mitigation, order and safety on city sidewalks, and a staffing plan to ensure continuity and safety in the delivery of services;
3. The proposer's submission of a customer service plan detailing customer service support tools, customer service standards, a mechanism for receiving and addressing customer complaints, performance metrics or other methods of addressing customer service, and the proposer's plan for addressing the language access needs of customers in the zone;
4. The proposer's submission of a plan describing practices to support waste reduction, reuse and recycling among commercial establishments within the zone, such as partnerships with local organizations, waste reduction or diversion targets, plans for offering organics collection services to a broad range of establishments within the zone, customer outreach and education or other practices to further such goals;
5. The proposer's submission of a waste management plan describing practices for disposal of commercial waste collected, including but not limited to, a description of the transfer, processing or final disposal locations for all materials collected, and specific practices or investments designed to promote the goals of sustainability, reliability and equity in the delivery of waste management services. In evaluating waste management plans submitted by proposers pursuant to this paragraph, the commissioner shall consider: (i) the total vehicle miles expected to be traveled as a result of the proposer's services, including but not limited to, consideration of the proximity of such locations to the zone, as applicable; (ii) whether such commercial waste will be transported to or from a solid waste transfer station by a sustainable mode of transport, such as rail or barge; (iii) whether, after considering a solid waste transfer station's history of compliance with applicable local, state and federal laws, the proposer's use of such solid waste transfer station is likely to have an impact on public health or safety; and (iv) any other factors that the commissioner deems relevant to promoting the goals of sustainability, reliability and equity in the delivery of waste management services;
6. The proposer's plan, if any, to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from commercial waste vehicles, including but not limited to, any plans to: provide commercial waste collection, removal and disposal services with a fleet comprised of at least 50 percent zero emissions vehicles by 2030, or for any request for proposals issued after 2030, 100 percent zero emissions vehicles by 2040; implement operational best practices; or otherwise utilize zero emissions vehicles in the provision of commercial waste collection, removal and disposal services;
7. The proposer's plan, if any, to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions through infrastructure investments, adoption of technologies or other sustainable solutions, including but not limited to, any plans to invest in sustainable facilities or infrastructure for organics and recycling processing;
8. The proposer's submission of a health and safety plan detailing compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws and specific practices to further the goals of promoting health and safety;
9. The proposer's history of compliance with existing federal, state and local laws, including but not limited to, laws relating to waste collection, removal and disposal, environmental protection, antitrust, consumer protection, health and safety, labor and employment, and anti-discrimination protections;
10. Submission of a plan describing the customer communication efforts the proposer intends to undertake during the transition to the commercial waste zone system and other communication efforts that will support and supplement the public outreach and education efforts of the department conducted pursuant to section 16-1010;
11. The proposer's plan, if any, to subcontract with any other designated carter, which shall include a description of how such subcontracting is consistent with the purposes of this chapter, including but not limited to, how such subcontracting will enhance public safety, minimize harmful environmental impacts and improve customer service;
12. The proposer's history of operating in New York city and the proposer's history of operating within the geographic area of each commercial waste zone for which such proposer has submitted a proposal;
13. The proposer's financial statements, including available capital, access to credit, and physical assets, including number of available commercial waste vehicles; and
14. Any other information the department deems appropriate.
c. Except as otherwise provided in subdivision d of this section, any agreement entered into pursuant to subdivision b of this section shall include:
1. A requirement that the awardee may not refuse commercial waste collection service to any commercial establishment within the commercial waste zone required to provide for the removal of such waste pursuant to the provisions of section 16-116, provided that such agreement may include provisions authorizing termination of service, refusal of service for good cause or setting forth other allowable measures to address default or non-payment by a commercial establishment;
2. A description of the maximum rate or rates that the awardee may charge customers for waste collection services, including any extra service fees or supplemental charges the awardee plans on including in the pricing structure, provided that extra service fees shall not be allowed for locking or unlocking gates or the rental of containers or dumpsters other than compactors and roll-offs;
3. A process by which awardees may petition the department for changes to the maximum rates described in paragraph 2 of this subdivision, which may include the opportunity for public comment, as set forth in such agreement;
4. A requirement that the awardee provide each customer with a written service agreement, which shall be negotiated between the customer and the awardee, specifying rates, standards of service and such other provisions as may be set forth in the agreement entered into between the awardee and the department pursuant to this section or as otherwise specified in the rules of the department;
5. A requirement that the awardee provide organic waste collection services to all commercial establishments that: (i) are located within the commercial waste zone for which the awardee has been awarded an agreement pursuant to this section; (ii) are not designated covered establishments pursuant to subdivision b of section 16-306.1; (iii) select such awardee for removal of commercial waste or have been assigned such awardee pursuant to paragraph 4 of subdivision e of this section; and (iv) request organic waste collection services, provided that such agreement may authorize the awardee to implement such requirement on a graduated schedule or may otherwise set forth circumstances in which such provision of such services shall not be required, consistent with the purposes of this chapter;
6. Specifications regarding the GPS devices, capable of collecting, storing and transmitting geographical data, to be installed on commercial waste vehicles, and requirements regarding periodic reporting of data collected by such devices to the department for purposes consistent with this title;
7. Any additional reporting requirements that the department deems necessary to further the goals of this title, including but not limited to, (i) waste generation estimates or waste characterization studies; (ii) collection routes; (iii) rates charged to customers; (iv) investments in sustainable vehicles, facilities or infrastructure; (v) any warnings or violations issued from agencies for violating local, state or federal law; and (vi) workplace injuries and accidents;
8. A requirement that the awardee and any of its designated carters comply with the terms of the awardee's air pollution and greenhouse gas emission reduction plan, if any, customer service plan, waste reduction plan, waste management plan and health and safety plan as described in subdivision b of this section;
9. A requirement that the awardee and any of its designated carters ensure that employees receive periodic training relating to health and safety, as set forth in the agreement;
10. A requirement that the awardee and any of its designated carters comply with the provisions of this title and all other applicable laws;
11. A requirement that the awardee prepare for submission and review by the department an emergency action plan detailing procedures to be deployed in emergency situations, including but not limited to, fires, evacuations, spills or weather emergencies, and addressing continuity and restoration of service;
12. Provisions addressing contingency planning to ensure (i) the orderly transition of services to a subsequent awardee upon the conclusion of the agreement, (ii) continuity of service in the case of an awardee or any of its designated carters being unable to provide commercial waste collection services or any other default by the awardee or any of its designated carters, and (iii) continuity of service in the case of a default by another awardee or designated carter;
13. The option for the awardee to subcontract with no more than two designated carters in each zone for services in order to meet the requirements of the agreement, provided that: (i) any such designated carter must fully comply with all terms of such agreement and must be licensed by the business integrity commission or otherwise authorized to collect trade waste in accordance with the provisions of title 16-A and rules promulgated pursuant thereto; (ii) the agreement shall include a requirement that the department review and approve all contracts between the awardee and all designated carters for purposes of ensuring that the terms of such contracts are in accordance with the provisions of this chapter; and (iii) a subcontracting arrangement with a designated carter that collects waste exclusively using bicycles shall not count toward the numerical limit on designated carters as subcontractors provided in this paragraph;
14. A requirement that the awardee engage in public outreach and education efforts to address the transition to the commercial waste zone system;
15. A requirement that the awardee and any of its designated carters utilize existing programs or resources developed by the department of small business services or any other relevant agency designed to promote employment opportunities for New York city residents, where applicable and appropriate; and
16. A requirement that the awardee pay liquidated damages as deemed appropriate by the department and set forth in the agreement.
d. Paragraphs 1 and 5 of subdivision c of this section shall not apply to an agreement to provide for the collection, transport and removal containerized commercial waste citywide.
e. 1. On or after the implementation start date for a commercial waste zone, no person other than an awardee authorized to operate within such commercial waste zone pursuant to an agreement entered into pursuant to this section may enter into a new contract or renew an existing contract with a commercial establishment located within such zone to provide for the collection, removal or disposal of commercial waste.
2. By the final implementation date for a commercial waste zone, every owner, lessee or person in control of a commercial establishment must contract with an awardee selected for such zone in which such establishment is located for the removal of such establishment's commercial waste by a designated carter pursuant to the terms of the agreement entered into between such awardee and the department pursuant to this section, provided however, that an owner, lessee or person in control of a commercial establishment may, by such final implementation date, contract for the removal of containerized commercial waste with either an awardee selected for such zone or with an awardee selected for the removal of containerized commercial waste citywide pursuant to this section.
3. The commissioner shall promulgate rules setting forth an implementation start date and a final implementation date for each commercial waste zone established pursuant to section 16-1001. The commissioner may select different implementation start dates and final implementation dates for different commercial waste zones.
4. Such rules may also set forth a procedure whereby the commissioner shall assign an awardee to a commercial establishment that has failed to select an awardee by the final implementation date established pursuant to such rules, provided that in such a case, the owner, lessee or person in control of a commercial establishment shall have 30 days after the assignment is made by the commissioner to select a different awardee authorized to operate in such commercial waste zone.
f. Any agreement entered into pursuant to subdivision b of this section may include any other terms or provisions deemed appropriate by the department.
(L.L. 2019/199, 11/20/2019, eff. 11/20/2019)
Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Appendix A at L.L. 2019/199.