{"id":53336,"date":"2025-11-26T20:26:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T20:26:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/53336\/"},"modified":"2025-11-26T20:26:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T20:26:11","slug":"heres-what-businesses-need-to-know-bronx-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/53336\/","title":{"rendered":"here\u2019s what businesses need to know \u2013 Bronx Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"The\t\t\t<\/p>\n

The deadline for Bronx businesses to negotiate a contract for trash pickup with a carter under the new Commercial Waste Zone rollout is fast approaching, here\u2019s what business owners need to know. <\/p>\n

File photo by Ed Reed\/Mayoral Photography Office<\/p>\n

The deadline for Bronx businesses to secure a contract with one of the companies approved by the city to haul away commercial waste is less than a week away and business owners could be stuck with more expensive services if they miss the Sunday, Nov. 30 deadline, according to the Department of Sanitation (DSNY).<\/p>\n

The second phase of DSNY\u2019s rollout of the new \u201cCommercial Waste Zones\u201d launched borough-wide on Oct. 1 for the two zones, Bronx East and West. Businesses will be required to negotiate a contract to manage their trash with a private company, a so-called \u201ccarter,\u201d that services their zone before the deadline or the city will assign them a carter at the maximum rate with the most infrequent service, according to DSNY officials.<\/p>\n

Pedro Suarez, the executive director of the Third Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) in the South Bronx told the Bronx Times that many of the approved carters have already been operating in the borough. He said that business owners should check with their existing trash collectors to ensure that their contracts are covered under the new regulations.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u200aUsually, the carters have relationships with each other, so if a referral is needed, the private carter can make that referral pretty easily,\u201d Suarez said. \u201cIf they [businesses] have further questions, they can certainly reach out to their local Business Improvement District.\u201d<\/p>\n

The city approved a law in 2019 overhauling the system of over 90 different garbage companies tasked with removing tons of waste from the city\u2019s retailers, grocers, delis, restaurants, gyms and all other businesses in the five boroughs. These carters drove large, heavy garbage trucks all over the city each night to collect trash and recycling from their customers.<\/p>\n

Critics of the system described a disorganized tangle of garbage truck routes, rife with inefficiencies, safety hazards and substandard service quality.\n<\/p>\n

Now the city is divided into 20 Commercial Waste Zones which consolidate the routes and use only a fraction of the providers from the old system.
\n\"TheThe map shows the Bronx divided into two Commercial Waste Zones, East and West, separated by community district. Each zone will be served by a specific set of three carters that will be responsible for managing the trash, recycling and organic materials for all the businesses in that zone. Map courtesy of DSNY\n<\/p>\n

Juan Saldana has coordinated some of the outreach campaign from DSNY in the Bronx. He said that the new system aims to improve a laundry list of failings with the old system.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u200aThe benefits of the Commercial Waste Zones: competitive bidding keeps costs low, transparent pricing, discounted rates for recycling and organics, stricter customer service standards, increased training and safety standards, greater operational efficiency, less commercial traffic, safer, quieter streets, improved air quality, higher recycling and organic rates.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each Commercial Waste Zone is covered by up to three carters that will provide garage pickup, recycling and organic waste removal services.\n<\/p>\n

The Bronx is covered by Action Environmental Services, Recycle Track Systems, Royal Waste Services and 5 Borough Waste Removal.\n<\/p>\n

\"This<\/p>\n

What Bronx business owners should know<\/p>\n

Suarez told the Bronx Times that business owners should first check with their current trash collector to make sure that they are an approved carter for the East and West Bronx Commercial Waste Zones.<\/p>\n

Some businesses may qualify for exemptions, like those which operate as nonprofits or office buildings. To find out more about exemptions and request garbage collection service through DSNY, go online to request nonprofit service<\/a> or a professional, fee based service<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to Javier Medina, the executive director of the Southern Boulevard BID said that many of the business owners in his area already have a contract with one of the waste management companies that won contracts with the city.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u200aTheir garbage collectors are local, so they don\u2019t want to switch,\u201d Medina said. \u201cThey\u2019re happy with the service that they have.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

While the transition to the new Commercial Waste Zones may be seamless to many Bronx businesses, others might need to change providers and renegotiate contracts. DSNY officials said that business owners should follow a five step process:<\/p>\n

Evaluate \u2013 get an overall sense of how much waste the business produces and how often it needs to be picked up.\n<\/p>\n

Identify \u2013 find the corresponding commercial waste zone for the business and identify the approved city carters for the area.\n<\/p>\n

Compare \u2013 use the city\u2019s free tools to calculate the maximum price for waste collection based on service needs.\n<\/p>\n

Negotiate \u2013 negotiate a contract that is below the maximum price. The city\u2019s tools allow business owners to view maximum costs of all competitors for a fair negotiation.\n<\/p>\n

Sign \u2013 sign a new service agreement for waste collection through an approved carter by Nov. 30. \u200aCustomers will have 30 days to change their chosen carter before\u00a0 penalties are issued.<\/p>\n

Securing a contract before the deadline ensures businesses can choose a waste hauler that matches their service needs and avoids the city assigning one by default. Officials say that taking action now can help business owners maintain continuity and avoid disruptions as the new system takes effect.<\/p>\n

Reach Sadie Brown at\u00a0sbrown@schnepsmedia.com<\/a>\u00a0or (214) 994-6723. For more coverage, subscribe to our\u00a0newsletter<\/a>\u00a0and follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>!<\/p>\n

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