DSNY Names Assistant Commissioner for Policy and External Affairs

The City of New York Department of Sanitation (DSNY) just announced the appointment of Gregory Anderson as the department’s assistant commissioner for policy and external affairs.

In this new position, Anderson will work to ensure that DSNY meets the needs of neighborhoods and communities across New York City as the department seeks to become more responsive in its delivery of services to city residents.

In this role, Anderson will shape the department's external-facing programs and communications, including overseeing community affairs and intergovernmental affairs. He also will coordinate activities with the Legislative Affairs Division within the Bureau of Legal Affairs, and he will shape DSNY’s policy agenda as the city works toward the goal of sending zero waste to landfills. Anderson will continue working in his current role as chief of staff.

“I am pleased to promote Gregory Anderson into the new position of assistant commissioner for policy and external affairs and am continually impressed by his dedication to this organization and his expertise on policy,” said DSNY Acting Commissioner Steven Costas in a statement. “For the last five years, Greg has been an important part of the leadership team at DSNY, and he is fully engaged in the department’s vision of sending zero waste to landfills. I wish him continued success in his new role.”

Related:DSNY: Advocates Call for Stronger Commercial Waste Reforms

In Anderson’s position as DSNY’s chief of staff, he oversees the Commissioner's Office and the Bureau of Community Affairs offices as well as department's policy portfolio. During his time in this role, Anderson represented DSNY in the development of OneNYC; led the planning of DSNY’s goal to send zero waste to landfills; supervised the creation of the department’s first-ever strategic plan; and has overseen efforts to implement commercial waste zones, a comprehensive reform of the city’s private waste collection industry.

Under his leadership, the Bureau of Community Affairs has more than doubled the number of outreach events it organizes or attends, has ensured 24/7 staffing for winter weather operations and has increased City Council expense funding allocations for DSNY services by more than $6 million, according to the department.

Before joining DSNY in 2014, Anderson served as a policy analyst with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, where he managed a range of projects including fleet management modernization, agency procurement process redesign and agency open data law compliance, among other responsibilities.

Anderson graduated from Brown University with a bachelor’s in urban studies and received a master’s degree in public administration from the New York University Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.