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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Trash set-out time changes and containerization efforts
0:11:04
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3 min
Commissioner Lojan discusses the 'trash revolution' initiative, which includes changes to trash set-out times and efforts to increase containerization of waste for both residential and commercial properties.
- Set-out times for waste were changed from 4 PM to 8 PM, with incentives for earlier set-out if using containers
- New containerization rules were implemented for businesses and small residential buildings
- The NYC bin program has sold over 800,000 bins, leading to significant decreases in rat sightings
- Concerns are raised about the implementation of Intro 1126, which aims to distribute free bins based on tax exemption data
Javier Lojan
0:11:04
In October 2022, the Adams administration kicked off the trash revolution by changing set out times for both residential and commercial waste from 4PM, one of the earliest set out times in the country, to 8PM effective April 2023, while also allowing earlier set out times if the material is in a container.
0:11:23
This incentive of containerization was paired with major changes to the s and y operations, picking up more than more of the trash far earlier including ending a practice by which up to one fifth of the trash had been left out for a full day.
0:11:37
Just over one year ago, container rules went into effect for all businesses of every type in New York City, requiring them to get their trash off the streets into a secure bin.
0:11:46
We wrote 70,000 warnings to businesses as this rule went into effect and have written tens of thousands of summons since, gaining broad compliance and bringing bins to restaurants, delis, bodegas, drugstores, boutiques, and everything else in our commercial corridors.
0:12:02
The first containerization requirement for residential buildings in more than fifty years went into effect November twelfth of twenty twenty four, requiring all buildings with one to nine residential units to use bins.
0:12:13
This can be either their own or the official NYC bin, the cheapest high quality bin available.
0:12:19
This program was designed thoughtfully so that these bins would be by far the cheapest of their quality on the market, around $50 a reasonable responsibility for most New York City property I understand that members of this council still felt a strong desire to distribute free bins as seen in the passage of intro eleven twenty six.
0:12:37
While I share your concern about the cost burdens on homeowners, this bill requires the s and y to use data on STAR and ESTAR tax exemption to determine eligibility.
0:12:47
This is a this is state data which by law DSNY cannot access.
0:12:51
Unfortunately, the program was described into law will be extremely expensive and difficult to operationalize, will not reach communities of the greatest need, and is ripe for abuse.
0:13:01
New Yorkers have purchased over 800,000 of these bins at www.bins.nyc or at New York City Home Depot locations, and they have fundamentally altered the look and feel of our streets, replacing piles of black trash bags that attracted the rats, impeded pedestrians, and generally made New Yorkers feel that no one cared about the neighborhoods.
0:13:23
These bins may look like simple pieces of plastic, but they have led to double digit percentage decreases in radsiding citywide.
0:13:31
Since June 2026, this will be the only bin permitted for trash to facilitate safer, cleaner, mechanized collection.
0:13:38
As you all know, I was once a sanitation worker, I am still one at heart.
0:13:42
And it pains me that fully half, half of our line of duty injuries are sprains and strains from throwing bags.
0:13:50
The two sanitation workers operating a truck with mechanical tippers will have one less thing to worry about.
0:13:55
That gets us to seventy percent of the trash already covered by containerization requirements, but we have a plan for the remaining 30%.
0:14:03
Installation of stationary entree containers called Empire Bins is well underway in Manhattan Community District 9 for the first full district containerization pilot, with these bins to be serviced by new automated sideloading trucks.
0:14:16
This is one of those innovations where we talk about it so much that it may be hard to maintain sight of just how fundamentally it changes the way that trash is stored and collected in New York City, and thus our experience of the streets in general.
0:14:29
Consider the fact that even a small scale test of on street containerization on the 10 blocks in Hamilton Heights led to a 60% decrease in rat sightings.
0:14:38
This will make a difference forever.
0:14:41
The new West Harlem Pilot will take those huge piles of trash that are generated by the largest buildings off the streets and instead store them in secure containers just like you'd see in Europe, South America, or Asia, Years faster than anyone thought possible.