We are ending 2023 on a heartbreaking note. Despite major outcry from City Council and tens of thousands of New Yorkers - it does not seem like the Mayor will restore our funding for community composting and outreach. With complete elimination of funding - we had to lay off 16 amazing staff members on our outreach and composting teams.
These incredible Big Reuse staff - "true believers" - and their dedication to composting, public education and environmental justice inspired countless New Yorkers who have learned from and worked along side of them at events, food scrap dropffs and volunteer days. Their work helped to build a more environmentally resilient city for all New Yorkers.
We were given a month's notice for funding cuts and we all rallied, petitioned and phone banked to demand the Mayor and DSNY restore funding and these jobs. In a time of growing climate crisis - we will continue the work to restore our budget for community composting and outreach for next years city budget staring July 2024. Until we can restore funding, we will miss them tremendously as coworkers and much loved friends and want to express our deepest gratitude for their work as an irreplaceable part of Big Reuse's efforts and community.
Sincerely
Justin Green - Executive Director, Big Reuse
