Who thought a bunch of garbage cans would have New Yorkers rushing to stores and dialling up authorities? But, it seems the administration can make them do it all. As a part of an anti-rat push by the City Hall, New Yorkers were told they had to start using official NYC garbage cans for trash pickup. As per the mandate, every building with one to nine units would have to use the official “NYC Bin” when they put out their trash by this summer or else face a fine. However, the residents are facing tough luck finding the bins for purchase as the city government blames an outside vendor for the issues. “Online ordering and the call centre are currently unavailable. Select NYC Bins are available at all NYC Home Depot locations,” states the Sanitation Department website.
Trash talk: No bins in stock
In a conversation with The Post, a Brooklynite revealed that the bins were out of stock at Home Depot. “How can we not find a consistent supply of these cans without using a Home Depot and an out-of-state manufacturer who can’t even supply them?” they said. Another, ordered a bin back in October 2025, which never arrived. And when they contacted the Department of Sanitation, the phone lines were down and the website proved to be useless. “I sort of got a little tired, and I felt like, to tell the truth, I’m really annoyed with sanitation,” said the 76-year-old Michael Monopoli to the outlet. “I never got the pail. And when I went to call you, the Department of Sanitation, you close down your phone and your website. So how am I supposed to get a ticket from you?”As per the city, the vendor that makes the bins is “failing to fulfil some orders” and people should email the manufacturer, Otto Environmental Systems, for refunds. However, the company also advised people to go to Home Depot to purchase the bins. “We are committed to restoring home delivery as quickly as possible to ensure the success of this important program,” a spokesperson for Otto Environmental Systems said.
No bin in NYC?
People are frustrated to see an idea that is normal in numerous cities, fail in execution in NYC. “It seems like only in New York can you try to match a standard idea from across the country and struggle so much to accomplish it,” they said.Others have noticed that sanitation workers themselves have been struggling to work with the bins. “It has a latch. They have to drag it over to the truck, flip it up, and then take the bags, throw them out, and then they have to just throw it back where it went and then move on,” they shared. “Before they had a flow. They just grabbed the bags from the curb, tossed them and kept going. It’s like a whole extra step. It’s a lot.”The idea was proposed by former NYC mayor Eric Adams amid his “War on Rats.” However, it was the City Council that passed legislation to reimburse middle-class homeowners for the approximately $50 bins.While New Yorkers set out their trash in any 55-gallon lidded bin as of now, by June they need to have the NYC-branded bins, or else be fined $50.