After years of trash-filled New York City sidewalks teeming with rats, Mayor Eric Adams has declared a war on the rat situation. The city plans to employ waste bins to contain trash bags instead of leaving them on sidewalks at night. The Department of Sanitation has already started a pilot program in West Harlem. The program will debut citywide fall of 2024 and by mid-2026 all New York City residents will have to place their waste into specific city bins. Some businesses are already on board, but the transition has brought challenges such as space allocation and logistic issues.
New York has fallen behind when it comes to waste management compared to other major cities around the world. According to the city’s Department of Sanitation, most cities have shifted to using waste containers, unlike New York City. The change would require a substantial investment in fleet updates as no trucks exist in North America currently able to fit the size of containers needed. A 96-page DSNY report suggests that the streets of New York City, which are occupied by nearly 8.5 million city residents, have logistical challenges on a route of 100,000 miles. Density may make containerization difficult particularly in the dense areas since it may interfere with the high volume of waste on the street or prohibit the accessibility.
As officials continue to implement their strategic plan for the future, they may need to proceed carefully. It is evident that cities have seen pushback from residents and citizens when enforcing trash collection rules using fines and punishment in the past. Instead, the enforcement of these rules may require using incentives – such as allowing residents to put out their trash two hours earlier each evening if it is placed in the bins – and an overall strategy of using social pressure to model proper waste disposal. The transition to waste bins is a major shift that will require coordination with residents and businesses on a large scale. And knowing the logistical challenges ahead, the DSNY are moving forward with implementing the new regulations.
