See the Environmental Justice Map of Queens County.
Learn where NYC’s waste goes. Â
What is Environmental Justice?
Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means that no population bears a disproportionate share of negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or from the execution of federal, state, and local laws; regulations; and policies. Meaningful involvement requires effective access to decision-makers for all, and the ability in all communities to make informed decisions and take positive actions to produce environmental justice for themselves. (U.S. DOE)
Find Environmental Justice communities where you live with this E.P.A. Tool.
What is Waste Equity?
For decades, more than three-quarters of trash from all of New York City has been trucked into three low-income communities of color in the South Bronx, North Brooklyn, and Southeast Queens. As a result, these communities suffer from higher asthma rates, greater air pollution, and more traffic fatalities than other New York neighborhoods. Waste equity means concentrated efforts to reduce diesel pollution and other burdens from waste transfer facilities, to reduce overall waste sent to landfills and incinerators, and to more fairly distribute waste processing and transfer facilities throughout the City. (NYLPI)
Links to Learn More:
Civics United for Railroad Environmental Solutions
Environmental Justice, NYC Climate Policy and Programs
NYC’s Waste Equity Law