The Task

The NYC Housing Authority was developing a waste management plan to reimagine how waste and recycling are collected on NYCHA developments, and wanted to make sure this plan aligned with the improvements NYCHA residents wanted to see. Public Works Partners was engaged to conduct outreach to residents to capture their perspectives.

Our Strategy

• Conducted on-the-ground outreach at 20 developments across the city, including tabling, door-to-door canvassing, and facilitated group discussions
• Designed and disseminated a survey in English and Spanish to over 4,500 NYCHA residents
• Synthesized data and feedback gathered into a final report, Trash Talk, which captured residents’ recommendations for how NYCHA should implement a new waste management strategy throughout its 335 developments

Project Impact & Outcome

• NYCHA released its Waste Management Plan, informed by resident feedback, in April 2019 and began implementing the plan immediately with the goals of making NYCHA properties clean and pest-free by 2025.