15-second recap: Mayor Eric Adams and Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced new trash rules meant to containerize 22 million pounds of trash, which previously sat in black bags on the curb. All businesses in New York City – of any size – must follow the new sanitation rules which include stowing trash in bins with secure lids. If you don’t follow the rules, you could be fined, or show up on the Department of Sanitation’s wall of shame.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch have taken their quest for cleaner, rat-free streets to the next level. Last year the duo introduced new setout times for both residential and commercial garbage. That was followed up by trash containerizationrules for restaurant, grocery, hotel and bodega owners, and there’s a reason for it. According to the Department of Sanitation, those groups make up only 20 percent of city businesses, but attract the most rats. Tisch said calls to 311 about rat sightings had dropped by 6% since residential setout times changed last year.
Trash laws impacting all NYC businesses went into effect on March 1, 2024.
As of March 1, commercial establishments may no longer stack their garbage in great big (stinky) black bags lining city streets. Instead, all NYC businesses must store trash in bins with tightly closed lids. But don’t worry if you’re still not ready for the new rules. There’s a one month grace period before the NYC Department of Sanitation begins issuing sanitation violations on April 1.
Fines start at $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense, and a $200 fine for every subsequent time trash from your business isn’t properly containerized. And watch out – businesses that don’t comply could receive $200 citations daily, and be trash shamed on DSNY’s Instagram.
While New York City is just catching up on trash containerization, it’s something that’s been standard practice overseas and elsewhere in the United States for many years.
Tisch said in her statement “For decades, major cities around the world have been putting their trash in wheelie bins or other types of containers. And New York City just hasn’t. It’s such a basic thing for so many reasons — the look and feel of the streets, odors in the summer, the rats. We have 44 million pounds of trash on the streets every day, and then we wonder why there’s a rat problem.”
If you need trash bins for your business, we’d love to help. You can start by having a look at CITIBIN’s most popular trashenclosures. When you’re ready for a more customized approach, we’ll create a visual rendering so you can get an idea of what your business will look like with your new CITIBINs. Also check out the new buyer’s guide to help you decide what you need most in your trash containers. Call us at 347.549.4121 or email us at info@citibin.com to discuss trash enclosures that work best with your trash situation.
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