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A Brief History of Waste Management 33

FIGURE 2.8 Early waste separation activities.

To make street cleaning more efficient and thorough, Waring raised the competence and status
of the workers. The street sweepers were made to wear white uniforms, to associate them with the
medical profession, which also became the department’s trademark. The workers were eventually
dubbed the “White Wings” (Figure 2.10).
Waring’s reform efforts made a positive impression on city dwellers. Collection became more
efficient, and the cost to clean the streets dropped to about half of 1895 figures. Public health also
improved. According to the Board of Health, the city’s death rate and sick rate declined substan-
tially. The average annual death rate in New York was 19.63 per 1000 during the first half of 1897,
down from 26.78 per 1000 in 1882 to 1894. Similarly diarrheal diseases decreased significantly
(Melosi, 1973).
In dealing with the final disposal of refuse, Waring employed both innovations and estab-
lished techniques. Most of the dry waste was still dumped at sea, until experiments with con-
trolled incineration had been completed. For ocean disposal, Waring recommended the use of the
new catamaran-type vessel, the Delehanty Dumping Scow, which was self-emptying and self-
propelled (Melosi, 1973).
Waring encouraged experimentation to find more efficient and economical methods of waste
reduction and utilization. His goal, far-sighted by today’s standards, was to reduce the amount of
the city’s wastes for ultimate disposal, and place the entire program under city management. A
waste reduction plant was eventually built on Barren Island (Figure 2.11). A land-reclamation
program later began on Riker’s Island, using ashes and other incinerated materials as fill material
(Figure 2.12).
Waring’s enthusiasm for reform had an impact well beyond his brief tenure as commissioner.

His organization of the Department of Street-Cleaning as a quasi-military outfit drew much ridicule
from the press. Criticism soon turned to lavish praise when New Yorkers, for the first time in many
years, could walk along uncluttered sidewalks and drive through streets free of garbage and manure.
High praise of Waring’s handiwork became widespread (Melosi, 1973; Wilson, 1977).