NEW YORK – New York City is taking another step in its war against rats and curbside litter, as residents can expect to see fewer bags and more bins on the streets starting Tuesday.
That’s because all buildings with one to nine housing units will have to start putting household waste to be collected in large plastic bins, which are said to be rat-proof, at the curb, rather than just the leave bags. This is the first time in 50 years that rubbish will not be left on the street for removal.
“It serves as an all-night buffet for the rats. It’s time to live differently than the rest of the world,” said New York City Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch. .
The city sells the official containers, which come in two sizes and have sealable lids, to homeowners for $50 each. More than 400,000 have been purchased since Monday.
The standard applies to apartment buildings and single family homes.
“They’re a lot cheaper than buying a new one at a hardware store or Home Depot or something, and we need a new one,” said Allie DitKowich of Bayside, Queens. “I think fish more to catch in the city, but at least I appreciate the steps to clean it up.”
For those who have not yet purchased one of the new receptacles, don’t worry: there will be a grace period until January 2nd. During that time, the Department of Sanitation will warn home owners not to use the bins. After that time, a fine between $50 and $200 will be issued.
“We want to give a reasonable amount of time to buy containers, learn the new muscle memory: containers instead of sidewalks,” said Commissioner Tisch. “My message to New Yorkers is very simple: the time to return dignity and order to every block of the city.”
The standards also apply to special use buildings, such as municipal agencies, non-profit organizations, places of worship, and professional offices in residential buildings.
It’s part of what the city and Mayor Eric Adams have called a “trash revolution” as they try to improve how they deal with 44 million pounds of garbage every day.
“This means that 70% of the city’s waste will be covered by container requirements,” Tisch previously said.
Larger buildings will join the container movement in the spring of 2025, as the city prepares to install new garbage trucks that will empty curbside containers for larger structures. The program, which the city says will reduce workplace injuries among sanitation workers, has been inspired by European cities such as Barcelona.
“We’re just catching up to what cities around the world are doing,” said Adams.
New policies aimed at reducing piles of garbage bags on sidewalks will follow the rules recently established for commercial buildings and businesses. Since March, 200,000 businesses in the Big Apple have placed their waste bags in waste bins, as communities across the county and around the world have long done.
A little less than a year ago, in August 2023, the city began requiring restaurants, convenience stores and bars to use a strong trash receptacle with a secure lid and extended the requirement to chain stores the following month.
2024-11-12 04:07:00
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