- The New York City Department of Sanitation is donating two collection trucks to the municipal governments of Vieques and Yabucoa in Puerto Rico.
- The donations are being coordinated by the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services and the New York City Office of Emergency Management, and are intended to assist Puerto Rico in its ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricane Fiona.
- The trucks are expected to arrive in Puerto Rico in January 2023, and will be used to help address issues with waste collection and public health on the island.
On Thursday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the donation of two standard-size collection trucks from the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to the municipal governments of Vieques and Yabucoa in Puerto Rico.
The donations come as Puerto Rico continues recovery efforts from Hurricane Fiona, which devastated the island in September. The donation is being coordinated by the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) in close collaboration with the New York City Office of Emergency Management (NYCEM) and DSNY.
The trucks are expected to arrive in Puerto Rico in January 2023.
“Immediately after Hurricane Fiona hit Puerto Rico earlier this year, my team and I were on the ground assessing the needs of New York’s ‘sixth county’ and providing the necessary resources to offer what assistance we could to those affected,” said Mayor Adams. “While the hurricane and its aftermath may have faded from the headlines, this donation of two sanitation trucks underscores our unwavering commitment to our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters in the midst of their ongoing recovery process,” he added.
Puerto Rico has been recovering from the effects of natural disasters since Hurricanes Maria and Irma made landfall in 2017. Last September, Hurricane Fiona brought torrential rains to some areas of the island, severely affecting the government’s ability to provide critical services to its residents.
Among these major problems is the inability to collect waste effectively. Puerto Rico’s sanitation trucks have suffered major mechanical failures and the need to use alternate routes has impeded their service.
“As Puerto Rico continues to recover from Hurricane Fiona, we must support its recovery as best we can,” said New York City Councilmember Marjorie Velazquez. “In the past, our city has donated during other natural disasters, and this is no different. The donation of the DSNY trucks will provide much-needed assistance to support Puerto Rico’s emergency response. I am thrilled to see my home island receive support from the City of New York and look forward to its recovery.“
With the donation of these two trucks, Puerto Rico is making great strides to improve its collection service and mitigate this serious public health issue.
“One of the best qualities of New Yorkers is that when tragedy strikes, we spring into action. Mayor Adams embodied this when Hurricane Fiona hit Puerto Rico, and he immediately led a delegation to assist in disaster management,” said New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar. “Now his humanitarian work continues with a donation of more than half a million dollars in sanitation equipment that will serve as a catalyst for recovery. Thank you to our mayor and all the city agencies working together to help New York’s sixth county.“