New York Construction Report staff writer
The New York City Department of Transportation’s concrete recycling facility at the Columbia Street Waterfront District will be stop operating in August and close by the end of the year.
The end of concrete recycling operations and closure of the temporary facility is in response to ongoing concerns raised during the public engagement around the redevelopment plans for the Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT) and will, according to local residents, improve quality of life in the neighborhood.
“We are taking an important step toward realizing a greener, safer, and more vibrant Brooklyn Marine Terminal for the residents of this community,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “This move not only clears the way for much-needed housing, open space, and a school as part of our proposed Brooklyn Marine Terminal project, but also reflects our city’s deep commitment to continuing to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers.
New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes joined other area elected officials and local residents to celebrate the announcent. Residents have been fighting for the closure due to dust and other quality of life impacts.
Over the last year and a half, they say the rock-crushing operations at the facility have created serious air quality, noise pollution, and traffic congestion issues for neighbors on the Columbia Waterfront. On windy days, dust emissions from the site have spread across the neighborhood, making it hard to breathe.
“We’ve been working toward this moment for a long time, and I’m thrilled our community’s voices have been heard,” Gounardes said. “As I’ve said time and time again: there are ways to recycle concrete that don’t involve forcing Brooklyn residents to breathe in toxic dust. We should never have had to choose between sustainable recycling and the health of our communities. Now, we no longer have to.
“Thank you to DOT for doing the right thing.”
The site — which currently occupies an area of the BMT site that would be redeveloped with housing, open space, and a school as part of the proposed BMT project — will be relocated to an alternate location. It was temporarily relocated to a yard on Columbia Street, near Kane Street, in 2024 to accommodate the city’s critical, climate-saving offshore wind hub and the development of renewable energy at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal.
DOT will accommodate the yard’s end of concrete recycling operations while continuing its concrete construction efforts to improve safety and accessibility across the city. Additional critical operations that took place in the yard before 2024, including bridge de-icing and traffic operations fiber electricians, will continue to operate at the Columbia Street yard.
“While concrete recycling is a critical part of DOT’s work to make our streets safer and more accessible, we’ve heard loud and clear from local residents that this temporary facility has disrupted their quality of life,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “In response to residents’ concerns and as the BMT redevelopment is discussed, we will cease concrete recycling work and accelerate the timeline for the planned closure of this temporary facility.”
Officials call the closure a “major step forward” for the neighborhood.
“Since last November, my office has worked closely with the community to ensure this site is moved to a more appropriate, non-residential location,” said New York City Councilmember Shahana Hanif. “This is a reflects the shared commitment of residents and the city to protect public health.
“The closure will help improve air quality, reduce truck traffic, and ease noise pollution in an area that has borne environmental burdens for far too long.”
