New York City has begun enforcement of its new trash container rules, issuing fines to owners of single-family homes and small private buildings with up to nine units that do not use official city trash bins.
The requirement is part of the city’s ongoing effort to reduce the rat population and improve trash collection for residents and sanitation workers.
“The department really wanted to rethink the way we approach our trash and the containerization efforts have really come out of that,” Department of Sanitation Commissioner Gregory Anderson said.
Under the new rules, official New York City bins will replace the practice of leaving trash bags on the ground. Supporters say the change could help reduce rat activity and improve street cleanliness.
“The city is absolutely filthy and disgusting and anyway that we can clean up the garbage that’s left on the street, would be fantastic,” Susan Hitzig of the Upper West Side said.
The city also says the containers could make collections safer for sanitation workers. Larger trash bins are emptied using equipment known as a tipper.
“So instead of a sanitation worker throwing the bags into the bin which can cause injury which can cause them to be stuck by needles, these have little bars on the front that can be picked up by a tipper and just tipped unit he back of the truck,” Anderson said.
Residents who fail to use the required bins will face escalating fines.The first violation carries a $50 fine, a second violation carries a $100 fine and a third violation costs $200.
“We’ve been giving out warnings since the beginning of June and have given out 32,000 warnings,” Anderson said.
Before enforcement began, the city tested the bins in a West Harlem neighborhood.
When asked whether the containers had made a difference over the past year, resident Casir Ramos responded: “A little bit, a little bit.”
Not all residents were convinced of the bins’ effectiveness.
“They don’t work. It doesn’t keep the rats out,” said Bernadette Adams of Harlem.
Eyewitness News reporter Chantee Lans found a chewed hole in the top of one plastic bin.
“It’s okay. I think they could do better though with it,” said Jason Ortiz of Harlem.
Anderson said the bins have been available for two years, first through delivery and later through retail sales. The city’s goal is to have all trash contained by 2031 as the program expands from smaller buildings to medium-sized and larger properties.
“We’re rolling out empire bins, which are larger containers that actually go on the street and are picked up by new automated side-loading collection trucks,” Anderson said.
Hitzig said she views the initiative as a positive step.
“I think having these bins is a great beginning,” she said.
———-
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* More New York City news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Follow us on YouTube
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.