Roosevelt Island’s Pneumatic Trash System Explained

On a narrow strip of land in New York City's East River, garbage trucks have never been needed. Beneath the streets of Roosevelt Island, 20-inch steel tubes carry thousands of tons of residential waste each year at up to 60 miles per hour to a central collection facility — completely out of sight. It is one of only two systems of its kind in the entire United States. The other is at Walt Disney World. But how did this island — which spent most of its history as New York's dumping ground for prisons, asylums, and hospitals — end up with the most advanced residential waste system in the country? The answer involves a 1960s garbage crisis, a visionary plan for a car-free community, a Swedish hospital engineer who asked the right question, and 50 years of underground engineering that most New Yorkers have never heard of. This is the story of Roosevelt Island's Automated Vacuum Collection system — and the forgotten history of the island beneath it. Support the Channel by becoming a member 👉    / @itshistory   IT’S HISTORY - Weekly Tales of American Urban Decay as presented by your host Ryan Socash.    • IT'S HISTORY 🔥 Trending   » Subscribe:    / @itshistory   » Listen podcasts: https://ffm.bio/itshistory » CONTACT For brands, agencies, and sponsorships: itshistory@thoughtleaders.io Click here to book a sponsorship with me http://thoughtleaders.io/reserve/its-... » DISCLAIMER Some media elements in this video are used under the fair use provisions of U.S. copyright law (Title 17, Section 107) for purposes of commentary, criticism, and education. If you believe your image or content was used in a way that violates your rights, please contact us at copyright@videobrothersmusic.pl » CREDIT Scriptwriter - Ryan Socash Editor - Karolina Szwata Host - Ryan Socash » NOTICE Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.