New York launches pilot green filming initiative

“There is currently more filming activity in New York City than ever before,” said Julie Menin, commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME).

“While this provides countless reasons to celebrate, we also want to be mindful of how this impacts our environment on both a local and global scale.

“NYC Film Green makes New York the first governing body in the country to implement a sustainability program for the entertainment industry. We believe it will make a significant and quantifiable positive impact, and pave the way towards industry-wide adoption of eco-friendly practices.”

The average feature filming in New York could save 60% of its waste from being buried in landfill sites, according to data collated by MOME from half a dozen recent movies that shot in the city. Similar savings are reportedly available for episodic TV series.

Switching the use of plastic water bottles for larger water coolers, reusable bottles and compostable cups is also a greener practice and can help productions reduce their spending.

The MOME announcement highlights the potential cash savings available to film and TV producers through the NYC Film Green initiative.

Television comedy series 30 Rock is cited as a production that saved $20,000 in hauling costs when the show’s sets were donated rather than disposed of when they were finally broken down after a seven-season run.

Superhero movie The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (pictured) saved around $400,000 through practices that included diverting more than half its wastage away from landfill and donating unused meals to shelters and food banks in the city.

The new programme will start in November and expansion is planned by mid-2017 when its impact has been assessed from a sample of TV shows and features.

Image: Columbia Pictures