What is the role of garbage collection in planning for dense urban environments?

What lessons can be learned from cities’ experiences with pneumatic collection?

Should installation of pneumatic systems be a priority for new development and retrofitting existing neighborhoods in New York?

FAST TRASH is an exhibition about the underground pneumatic garbage collection system in use on Roosevelt Island in New York City since 1975. We are so into this topic — exposing an innovative infrastructural system, exploring a fascinating New York city neighborhood, and speculating on what it might mean for the future of cities — that we are inviting all of you to come check it out in person at the first omnibus meet-up of 2010: save the date May 16th, 2pm on Roosevelt Island. [UPDATE: Complete info about the meet-up now posted here.] But first, this Thursday some of the issues that the exhibition brings to light will be discussed by a panel of international and local waste management experts and urban planners and designers.

FAST TRASH SYMPOSIUM: Garbage Collection and the Future of Cities

May 6, 2010 6 – 9pm

NYU Wagner School of Public Service

The Puck Building, The Rudin Family Forum for Civic Dialogue, 2nd Fl.

295 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10012

Click here to RSVP.

The purpose of the panel is to open a dialogue around the role of garbage collection in the future of dense urban environments. Independent experts, planners and officials from cities in Europe and Canada experienced with underground waste transportation systems will describe the process and the context in which the decision was made.

The symposium is organized by Juliette Spertus, independent curator, and co-sponsored by the Urban Planning Department of NYU Wagner, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) and Envac, manufacturer of the Roosevelt Island system, as part of the 40th anniversary celebration of the 1969 master plan for the Island.

SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE:

6:00pm Session 1. City Presentations: Stockholm, London, Barcelona, Montreal

Introduced by Richard Anderson, President, NY Building Congress

Presentations by

Mike Youkee, Housing Expert and Development Consultant, London

Lovisa Wassbäck, Head of Waste Planning, Traffic Administration, Stockholm

Carlos Vazquez, Technical Director, Sanitation Department, Barcelona

Martin Maillet, Senior Project Manager for the City of Montreal

Put into perspective by Ken Greenberg, Architect and Urban Designer, Toronto

…
7:30pm Session 2. Panel Discussion

Introduced and moderated by Rosina Abramson, Vice President of Planning and Intergovernmental Affairs, Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.

International experts of Session 1 are joined by NY officials

Suzanne Mattei, Director, NY State Dept. of Environmental Conservation, NYC Office

Steven Brautigam, Assistant Commissioner for Environmental Affairs, NYC Dept. of Sanitation

9pm Reception

…

FAST TRASH EXHIBITION ON ROOSEVELT ISLAND:

April 22 – May 23, 2010

Gallery RIVAA, 527 Main Street on Roosevelt Island

Hours: Wednesday and Friday 2pm-9pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am-5pm.

Web: www.fasttrash.org