Committee on Housing
Budget Oversight Hearing
Friday May 30, 2025
Introduction
Councilmember White, thank you for the opportunity to testify at this Housing Committee oversight hearing. My name is Dr. Annie Halsey, and I am a member of the Sierra Club DC Chapter’s Executive Committee and the Zero Waste Committee. The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. The DC chapter represents 7,000 active members and supporters.
The DCHA should move forward on recycling for public housing residents
In 2024, DPW stated that providing recycling collection services to all residents, including those in public housing, is one of the key opportunities through which the DC government can advance racial equity. While waste collection services for public housing in Washington are provided by private contractors as arranged by the Housing Authority, it seems reasonable to expect that DCHA would reflect the same commitment and values. We also understand that the DPW Office of Waste Diversion has discussed the implementation of recycling services with DCHA.
Unfortunately, however, we have not seen that DCHA has issued a contract for these services, although it issued a request for proposal in January 2024, followed by six addendums. Solicitation for the award of this contract has not been addressed in the past year, and there is no clear timeline for the review of bids or for a target award date. We request more information on DCHA’s plans for first steps on issuing the public housing recycling contract, and why it has been so delayed. There is a $52.4 million allocation to support DCHA public housing improvements in the mayor’s FY26 Proposed Budget. We want to make sure that these allocations include providing recycling services for public housing residents because they are entitled to the same recycling services as all District residents.
At a time of constrained resources, efficiency is paramount. We therefore request that, if the FY26 Proposed Budget does not cover the existing recycling RFP, DCHA issue a new RFP and award a contract to begin providing recycling services to at least one public housing property no later than in FY26. We also request that DCHA prioritize the development and publication of a comprehensive plan for the issuance of a recycling services contract for all public housing properties, which could and should involve other DC government agencies and stakeholders. The plan should provide funding details as well as an implementation timeline. Such a plan would demonstrate a commitment by the DC government to transparency as well as to the values of inclusivity and equity, which need to be defended now more than ever.
The District Bottle Bill Is Self-Funding
Councilmember White, please also allow me to thank you for co-introducing the District Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Amendment Act of 2025, commonly referred to as the bottle bill. We expect the Council will hold a hearing on this groundbreaking legislation later this year. The bottle bill is a self-funding program, entirely paid for by the beverage companies whose packaging choices have caused massive litter in the District. Even start-up costs that the DOEE might incur to set up the program’s administrative processes will be reimbursed and paid back into the General Fund. The bottle bill will also generate funds, through unclaimed deposits, to fund DOEE’s expenses, other environmental programs, and to ensure the program is equitably implemented, with ease of return for all District residents.
Thank you, Councilmember White, for convening this hearing and for the opportunity to testify.