New Yorkers will soon have to put out their trash much later in the day as the city looks to address its growing rat problem.
As part of the Adams administration’s ongoing commitment to cleaning up New York City’s streets and strengthening the city’s economic recovery, the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) today announced the final publication of new rules to limit the number of hours trash, recycling, and organics will sit on New York City sidewalks by adjusting the time of day those materials may be placed on the curb. This makes good on a commitment made in mid-October, and comes after a 30-day public comment period and public hearing.
Currently, trash, recycling, and organics may be placed on the curb after 4:00 PM the night before collection — the earliest of any major American city — meaning that in many neighborhoods these items can sit out for more than 14 hours, including during the evening pedestrian rush hour. These new rules, which go into effect April 1, 2023, will decrease the amount of time waste is left on the curb, diminishing the eyesore of black bags, reducing trash for rats, and improving cleanliness — and ultimately boosting the city’s recovery.
Starting April 1, 2023, garbage can be taken out after 6 p.m. and must be in a secure container. Currently, garbage can be left out after 4 p.m.
Bundled cardboard can be left next to the secure containers, and garbage bags can be left directly on the curb only after 8 p.m.
Buildings with nine or more residential units can opt to put the garbage out between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m.
This announcement also includes new clarified rules for commercial establishments, which do not receive service from DSNY but rather from private waste haulers. Businesses may choose from one of the following options:
Place waste out after 8:00 PM if putting bags directly on the curb or
Place waste out one hour before closing in a secure container. Bundled cardboard may go next to the container.
The fine for a first violation will be $50 and it will escalate to $100 after that.
“Bags of trash sitting on the curb for hours have hurt our city’s recovery for too long and is one of the most indelible images of New York,” said Mayor Eric Adams, when he announced his plans to adjust the times at a press conference last year. “By drastically reducing the amount of time that black bags can sit on our curb, we’re not just catching up with other cities but surpassing them and leading the nation again.”
Confused. Where are we supposed to keep the garbage until then? In our house? Ewww the bags pile up. The homes will have the mice and rats instead!
You can put it in a container, also it’s only a couple hours longer in your house it’s not going to do anything to you. The garbage problem is absolutely disgusting and thank G0d it’s being addressed.
The narrower the time frame, the harder it is for individuals who must leave in tbe afternoon for a night shift or other reasons, to be able to put their trash out at all.
…as it’s only a couple of hours less on the street, it’s not going to do a thing for the rat problem. Typical example of government busybodying and making things worse.
I’m assuming the Rat and Mouse population will follow this new schedule too.
Short Fridays will be a major issue. If we have collection Shabbos morning the latest we can take it out Friday is 4:00
Did our elected get involved in resolving Erev Shabbos and YT???
In Europe everyone has a wheely bin they put the trash inside the wheely bin and the garbage comes and collects it there are no black bags lying around or garbage bags lying around on the street and you dont find rats and mice .. here in New York it disgusting with the garbage .it’s about time for change
Forget Europe, most cities in the US use trash cans, that are specifically designed to keep rodents out.
In Europe, that have so much property or room in their houses for these bins?
so yeaah please don’t tell us about Europe
Did they consider people are scared to walk out at night do to the increasing rates with 2 legs?? The increasing night crimes??
I saw a big rat in my trash bin
Because the rats and mice only come out after 8 pm? This is not a productive way of eradicating rats . Crown heights buildings are already infested with rats !
It’s a disgusting to see rats running and not scary from people anymore. No one cares.
The city needs to pick up garbage few times per day to keep houses & building off the “ food” … why they can’t hire extra cleaning crews?
What are we supposed to do when shobbos comes in before 6?
Will they allow for trash to be left curbside in bags on an erev shabbos or YT?
And what about Shabbos pick up in the winter when you can’t put the bags out so late because of Shabbos?
Make no sense most people keep the garbage outside any way also it’s 11 o’clock they still didn’t pick up the garbage so what is this law going to help
Personally I’m not a huge fan of the mayor but this is a great initiative. Coming to Crown Heights I was absolutely mortified by the trash in the streets. New York garbage is nasty and needs to be addressed by all communities including ours.
In no other city are there piles of garbage bags all over the side walk for trash pick up. Other places have big metal bins that the trash goes into- and places that have lots of trash have pick up a few times a week
Only NYC the super dense the garbage is not collected few times per day or more often not collected on a designated days at all..
the city is doing this to fight the rat NOT for a reason to give more tickets to people, people need to learn that government is there to help people.
…the inevitable result is going to be nothing useful regarding the former, and a lot more of the latter. There’s a reason for the saying that the scariest words in the English language are “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”
The piles of garbage you witnessed were likely due the trash collections not taking place on the scheduled days!!! Either it snowed half an inch, or there was a holiday or they simply came much later in the day. This meaningless law will just be another excuse to fine those that NEED to put garbage at the curb earlier than 6PM (ie. Shabbos, leaving town etc…) and just to make sure you are all aware, the sanitation guys don’t take an extra step to get garbage near your house, so if it’s not at the curb all piled mountain high,… Read more »
good start . at least when you are walking the streets going home from work you wont have to dodge garbage . Next step is to force the restaurants o n kingston ave and anyone that produces mountains of garbage to have private garbage pickup at least once a day. and next step is to fine anyone who doesnt put garbage in bins . Just dumping garbage bags on the street is disgusting
The City should mandate the use of bins – with attached, spring-closed lids. As someone else noted, this is done in other cities. The sanitation crew /trucks tilt the bins into the trucks, eliminating spillage, etc. This would effectively address the rat issue.
Other cities don’t have the amount of people concentrated in such small spaces.
Yup to have garbage bins is a better idea.
It’s normal and logical. There’s space on your front porch and communal buildings can have larger ones in a designated space.
Plenty crowded cities do the same.
WHICH BEGGARS THE QUESTION!
WITH ALL THE CRIME AND RATS, WHY ARE RENTS AND HOUSES SO EXPENSIVE IN CROWN HEIGHTS???
Supply and Demand
The reason why we have this increased rat problem now is due to the sanitation department abdicating it’s duties during covid scare and leaving garbage on the streets for days. Regarding a container, why would I want to invest in a secure container when it will get thrown around and destroyed by the sanitation workers or stolen by criminals? In any case, changing the hours of placing the bags on the street will have a negligible effect on the rats as I’m sure they will adapt quickly.
The sidewalks & street in front of homes are also littered. Not only about rats. Walked to Kingston and was horrified at how the Shechuna looks.
If each family took the time to care for their own property would make a world of difference.
is that the garbage is often not even picked up until many hours or even a day or two after it is supposed to be
and please while we are cleaning up the city, how about the human acting in horrific ways towards others, or are those allowed at all hours?
Those huge bulky green pails that are so popular are great for deterring rodents, they can only chew through the lid which they do often, problem is those pails have a bar in front and were made to be picked up by machines, they are heavy when empty, even the smallest ones. No sanitation worker in his or her right mind is going to lift these pails furthermore overstuffed kitchen bags placed in these pails cause shoulder strains when attempting to remove such bags. Everyone needs to do better, each sanitation crew services thousands of families per day, Each truck… Read more »
Maybe our city should hire more garbage tracks and pick up garbage few times per day. Like 4AM 8pm same day!!!
Crowded places like restaurants & schools, hospitals more times per day.
Keeping garbage inside will not solve the rat problems, we live in the building – it’s insane what’s going on in terms of rats, and all CH BACK ALLEYS – are infected with rats…
City needs to do extra cleaning and install food leftovers shredders inside the NYC kitchen sinks as a mandatory
So all garbage is taken away 24/7
and not piles up.
I live in a city out of NY, and we put our trash out in bins, which a truck can pick up without people having to carry it. The idea of trash bags sitting DIRECTLY on the sidewalk, leaving residue and a terrible smell, is DISGUSTING. Get it together!