Battle Over Manhattan Waste Station Now de Blasio's Problem

An environmental coalition opposed to the East 91st Street Marine Transfer Station is hoping the de Blasio administration will take another look at the city's Solid Waste Management Plan, dating back to 2006.

Currently, the outer boroughs are saddled with the bulk of the city's waste disposal. But Kelly Nummo-Guenther, president of the group Pledge 2 Protect, said putting a waste station in Manhattan isn't the answer. She said the city can do more to recycle its solid waste.

"The national average is 35 percent recycling...we are way behind," she said. "We have got to focus on reducing, recycling, reusing waste."

Nummo-Guenther said the city recycles just 15 percent of its trash, far from the waste management plan's goal of 33 percent. She said her group plans to discuss its report with Mayor de Blasio. The mayor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but as a candidate for mayor de Blasio supported the Manhattan waste transfer station.