Section 17-175. Waste reduction study

a. The department shall, within six
  months of the effective date of this section, complete a  study  of  the
  feasibility  of  reducing  the  amount  of medical waste and other solid
  waste generated by any person licensed by the city or state of New  York
  to  provide  health, medical, pharmaceutical or laboratory services. The
  study shall include, but not be limited to, an analysis of:
    1. the feasibility of switching from the use of disposable to reusable
  medical  equipment,  laboratory  equipment,   clothing,   food   service
  equipment   and  any  other  product  for  which  there  is  a  reusable
  substitute;
    2. availability of reusable medical equipment,  laboratory  equipment,
  clothing,  food  service equipment and any other product for which there
  is a reusable substitute;
    3. the historical  shift  from  the  use  of  reusable  to  disposable
  products;
    4.  the current composition of medical and other solid waste generated
  by hospitals and other health care facilities;
    5. the present and future cost of using reusable products compared  to
  the  cost  of  using disposable products, including the costs associated
  with substituting products and any special physical needs, such as space
  requirements or new equipment;
    6. the effects of waste reduction on hospital  costs  and  the  city's
  economy;
    7.  the environmental impacts of an increased use of reusable products
  compared to the continued incineration  and  landfilling  of  disposable
  products, both on and off-site of the generating facility; and
    8. all relevant federal, state and local legislation and regulations.
    b.  The  study shall also include a comprehensive waste reduction plan
  for medical waste and other solid waste generated by any person licensed
  by  the  city  or  state  of  New  York  to  provide  health,   medical,
  pharmaceutical  or  laboratory  services that shall include annual waste
  reduction goals for the next five years,  a  strategy  for  implementing
  such  goals,  a  list  of  reusable  materials  and products that can be
  substituted for dispoable materials and products where feasible, and any
  revisions to the city health code that are necessary  to  implement  the
  waste reduction plan.
    c.  The commissioner shall, within six months of the effective date of
  this section, submit to the council a report on  the  findings  of  such
  study  and any recommendations as to legislation or regulations that are
  necessary to implement the recommendations of the study.