Photo Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
The new rules are slated to go into effect on April 1, 2023.
By Forum Staff
Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) on Monday announced the opening of the public comment period for new proposed rules, reducing the number of hours trash and recycling will sit on New York City sidewalks by adjusting the time of day trash may be placed on the curb. Currently, trash and recycling may be placed on the curb after 4:00 PM the night before collection – the earliest of any major American city – meaning that in many neighborhoods these items can sit out for more than 14 hours, including during the evening pedestrian rush hour. These new rules would decrease the amount of time trash is left on the curb, diminishing the eyesore of black bags, reducing trash for rats, and improving cleanliness – and ultimately boosting the city’s recovery.
Under the new rules, slated to go into effect on April 1, 2023, residential buildings would have up to three options, each of which would substantially decrease the amount of time trash is on the curb:
Place trash out after 6:00 PM in a secure container,
Place trash out after 8:00 PM if putting bags directly on the curb, or
If a building has nine or more residential units, the property owner may opt in to a 4:00 – 7:00 AM set-out window instead. The opt-in period will run for the month of January each year, allowing DSNY to design quick and efficient routes that take effect April 1.
Taken together, this means trash will sit on the curb for a fraction of the time it does currently. These rules would apply to recycling and curbside composting as well.
This announcement also includes new clarified rules for commercial establishments, which do not receive service from DSNY but rather from private waste haulers. Businesses may engage in one of the following options:
Place trash out after 8:00 PM if putting bags directly on the curb or
Place trash out one hour before closing in a secure container.
In addition to these new proposed rules, DSNY is doing more of its collection on the midnight shift than pre-pandemic, further reducing the amount of time trash sits on the street. Overnight collection now accounts for approximately one quarter of all collection operations – roughly 5 million pounds per night.
The proposed rules are subject to public comment under the City Administrative Procedure Act. The comment period will be open until November 18, and a public hearing on the proposed rules will be held on Thursday, November 18 at 9:30 AM. After considering these public comments, DSNY will publish final rules later this year. Public comments can be submitted by email, mail, or via the city’s website: https://rules.cityofnewyork.us/rule/time-for-placing-solid-waste-and-recyclable-materials-out-at-the-curb-for-collection/.
“The reduced hours that trash will be on present on our streets will be a major deterrent to the issue of widespread problems with rodents in communities throughout the city,” said City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park).
“I applaud Mayor Adams for his efforts to address our city’s sanitation issues and encourage New Yorkers to engage in this public comment process,” added Councilman Bob Holden (D-Maspeth). “The city needs to do more to get rid of pests that feed on garbage. More than ever, we need to rely on New York’s Strongest and I thank them for their work.”
