During the October 24, 2026 Roosevelt Island Halloween Parade & Extravaganza, NY State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright announced:
According to this October 27, 2026 press release from Assembly Member Seawright:
New York State Assembly Member Rebecca A. Seawright presented a $200,000 check to Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) President BJ Jones at the Roosevelt Island Halloween Extravaganza on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
“Roosevelt Island’s innovative AVAC system has served this community for more than 50 years, and we must ensure it continues to serve residents safely and reliably for generations to come,” said Assembly Member Rebecca A. Seawright. “I am proud to secure $200,000 to help modernize this essential infrastructure, prevent costly disruptions, and protect the health and quality of life of Roosevelt Islanders. I thank RIOC for its continued partnership in strengthening our community.”
“On behalf of the Roosevelt Island community, I’d like to thank Assembly Member Seawright for working hard to procure this $200,000 state grant, which will help fund critical infrastructure upgrades for the island’s AVAC system,” said RIOC President and CEO B.J. Jones. “This unique system helps maintain the island’s cleanliness while reducing truck traffic and congestion. Keeping Roosevelt Island clean and green is a top priority for RIOC, and we deeply appreciate Assembly Member Seawright’s partnership and continued support in helping us achieve that goal.”
The state funding will support critical upgrades to Roosevelt Island’s Automated Vacuum Collection (AVAC) system, which has served as a cornerstone of the island’s sanitation infrastructure since 1975. Originally designed with a 40-year operational lifespan, the system has exceeded its anticipated service life and requires significant modernization.
Planned improvements include replacing deteriorating underground pipework, particularly on the island’s west side, and aging plant rails used to transport waste containers. These upgrades are intended to reduce the risk of system failure, protect public health, and incorporate modern monitoring technologies to improve efficiency and environmental sustainability.
The investment represents an important step toward ensuring Roosevelt Island’s unique waste collection system remains reliable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable for decades to come.
I followed up asking the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):
… Do you have a statement about the anticipated costs of necessary future AVAC upgrades/improvements?
Will update when any new information becomes available.
During the February 12, 2026 RIOC Operations Advisory Committee meeting.RIOC Chief Operating Officer Mary Cunneen described the problems caused by prohibited items being placed in the AVAC chutes causing clogging and shutting down the system.
During an October 23, 2022 tour of the Roosevelt Island AVAC facility I asked Sanitation Department worker TJ about crazy items that were placed in the AVAC chutes.
TJ answered that bed frames and TV sets have been thrown down the AVAC chute.
Watch the full video of the fascinating 2022 tour of the Roosevelt Island AVAC facility.